How Super Granulating Watercolors Transform Your Art
If you love rich texture, expressive washes, and watercolor that feels alive on the paper, Schmincke Super Granulating Watercolor Paints deserve a place in your palette. These paints aren’t just colors — they’re tools for atmospheric effects, dramatic skies, rugged rocks, and organic textures that make paintings pop.
🎨 What “Super Granulating” Really Means
Granulation in watercolor refers to pigment particles that separate and settle into the paper’s texture, creating a lovely, irregular surface pattern. Schmincke Super Granulating colors take this effect to an extreme — the pigments disperse dramatically, leaving visible granules and organic variation even in broad washes.
Think of granulation like the grain in wood or mineral patterns in stone — it adds depth, mood, and a sense of physicality that smooth washes just can’t match.
Why Artists Love Schmincke’s Super Granulating Series
See several of these paints in action on my Riga, Latvia webpage:
1. Extraordinary Texture
Super granulating pigments produce natural, unpredictable, and beautiful surface patterns — perfect for landscapes, skies, weathered surfaces, and abstract passages.
2. Rich, Saturated Color
Despite their tendency to separate, these paints maintain strong color intensity and impressive transparency. The result is vivid layers with visual complexity.
3. Unique Artistic Effects
These paints encourage experimentation. They respond beautifully to:
Mixed-media accents
Wet-on-wet washes
Layered glazing
Blending with non-granulating hues
You can purchase all these paints online:
Schminke Super Granulating
Forest Grey
Tundra Orange
Glacier Brown
Glacier Green
Forest Brown
Desert Green
Tundra Green
Shire Yellow
Tundra Violet
Tundra Blue
Tundra Green
Tundra Violet
Tundra Red
Tundra Orange
Shire Yellow
Glacier Green
Forest Grey
How to Use Super Granulating Watercolors Like a Pro
✔ Wet-on-Wet for Soft, Organic Texture
Apply plenty of water before laying down the pigment. The granulating particles spread and settle randomly, creating natural texture you can’t get otherwise.
✔ Layer Glazing for Depth
Build up thin layers of granulating colors. Each pass adds richness and subtle surface variation — great for atmospheric perspective and rugged terrain.
✔ Pair with Non-Granulating Colors
Use smooth paints for focal elements (figures, sharp edges) and let granulating hues sing in the background or middle ground.
✔ Use Different Papers
Rough and cold-pressed papers amplify granulation. The tooth catches pigment differently at every point, enhancing the effect.
Final Thoughts
Schmincke Super Granulating Watercolors aren’t just paints — they’re an invitation to explore texture, atmosphere, and expressive possibilities that smooth washes can’t achieve. Whether you’re painting rugged landscapes, dramatic skies, weathered surfaces, or stylized abstractions, these paints add an organic richness that elevates your work.
👉 Try them with intention: Let the pigments do some of the creative work for you. The unexpected beauty of granulation might just transform how you paint.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Ryan Fox AWS, NWS, TWSA
Ryan Fox Painting
(919) 645-8345