A watercolor painting usually progresses in the following manner:

• Large shapes to small shapes
• Wet on wet to wet on dry (could also be read as from soft edges to hard edges)
• Light tones (more water in a mix) to dark tones (less water in a mix)
• Cool colors (distance) to warm colours (closer to the viewer)

All four groups move along at a similar pace at about the same time.

Watercolor Painting Progression Chart

The above is meant as a general guide only not as a rule.

Happy painting,

Joe Cartwright