WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS are developed in stages with drying time between the layering of washes.  A wash is a mixture of pigment and water.  In the first stages of the painting, the washes produce light areas flowing across the paper.  As they dry they create coloured ridges with light and dark areas.  The final painting technique is called drybrush and is used to tighten the shapes giving detail to the elements within the composition.