Blooming In watercolor painting, "blooms" (also known as backruns, cauliflowers, or blossoms) occur when excess water is introduced to a drying wash. While often considered a mistake by beginners, they are a fantastic way to add organic texture to landscapes, skies, and stones.
When? Wait until the wash has lost its "mirror-like" shine and looks satin or damp.
In the Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketcher’s Pocket Set, the most granulating color is Ultramarine. Granulation occurs when pigment particles settle into the valleys of the paper, creating a speckled or textured effect.
Granulating Colors in Your Set
Based on the color list from the Sketcher's Pocket Set of 12, here is how the pigments behave regarding granulation:
Ultramarine (PB29): This is the strongest granulating color in the set. It is a traditional mineral pigment known for its heavy particles that naturally create texture.
Burnt Umber (PBr7/PY42): Traditional "earth" colors like this often exhibit mild granulation, though it is less dramatic than Ultramarine.
Burnt Sienna (PR101): Similar to Burnt Umber, this earth-based pigment can show a slight grainy texture, especially when used in heavy washes.
Yellow Ochre (PY42): While an earth color, the synthetic version used in the Cotman range is often more uniform and generally rated as non-granulating by Winsor & Newton.
Why Other Colors Don't Granulate
Most other colors in this set, such as Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Pale Hue, and Viridian Hue, are "Hue" versions made from modern synthetic organic pigments. These pigments have much finer particles that stay suspended in water, resulting in a smooth, uniform wash rather than a textured one.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors Sketcher's Pocket Set of 12