Which watercolor technique describes painting into a wet area so that colors blend and bleed into one another?

• A. Wash
• B. Plein air
• C. Sgraffito
• D. Wet on wet

Answer: (C)

Painting into a wet area allows colors to flow and bleed into one another, creating soft edges and natural transitions. This approach is called wet-on-wet. By keeping the surface damp, pigments diffuse and mingle, which is perfect for skies, mist, or any scene with seamless color blending. A broad, even layer of color—a wash—focuses on uniform coverage rather than intentional bleeding between different colors. Plein air means painting outdoors, not a specific blending technique. Sgraffito involves scratching away a top layer to reveal what’s underneath, not blending colors together.