One of the most commonly heard frustrations in watercolour painting is that the paint dries too quickly to blend properly — particularly when working wet into wet, creating graded washes, or trying to achieve smooth transitions between colours. Water alone evaporates fast, and in warmer conditions or on hot-pressed paper the working window can feel almost impossibly brief. Winsor & Newton Blending Medium solves this problem directly and elegantly, slowing the drying time of watercolour and significantly extending the period during which the paint remains workable and responsive.
The medium works by thickening the diluted paint slightly and slowing evaporation from the surface, giving considerably more time to manipulate colour before it sets. The result is a much longer working window — long enough to blend two colours into a seamless gradation, to work a wash from full strength down to the lightest tint, or to rework an area that would otherwise have dried before you were satisfied with it. For watercolourists who paint outdoors or in warm climates where evaporation is accelerated, it is particularly valuable.
It can be used in two ways. Mixed directly with the watercolour instead of water, it gives the maximum extended working time and produces a slightly glossy finish with good pigment saturation. It can also be applied to the paper in advance of the colour, preparing the surface for blending work. Once dry, further washes can be applied over any area treated with Blending Medium without disturbing the layers beneath — which gives real confidence in building up a painting in stages. The medium does not affect the colour of the paint or any of its other properties.
For maximum effect Winsor & Newton recommend diluting with the medium alone rather than adding water, though it can be combined with water to produce a range of working times and blending characteristics between the two extremes.
What does Winsor & Newton Watercolour Blending Medium actually do? It slows the drying time of watercolour paint, extending the window during which colours can be blended, merged, and worked on the paper. It also strengthens the bond of the pigment to the paper surface and produces a slight gloss in the finished wash.
How do you use it? It can be mixed directly with watercolour paint in place of water for maximum effect, or applied to the paper in advance of painting to prepare the surface. For a range of working times, it can also be combined with water in varying proportions.
Does it affect the colour of the paint? No. Blending Medium does not affect the colour, transparency, or other properties of the watercolour. It works purely on the drying and blending behaviour of the paint.
Can you paint over areas treated with Blending Medium once dry? Yes. Once a wash containing Blending Medium has dried, further washes can be applied over the top without lifting or disturbing the dried layer — making it practical for layered working and glazing techniques.
Is it useful for outdoor painting? Yes — it is particularly valuable for plein air painting in warm conditions where evaporation is faster than in the studio, extending the working time sufficiently to achieve smooth blends even in challenging conditions.
What size is the bottle? 75ml.
