Artists value watercolor for its quick-drying properties and the ability to create a range of tones by adjusting the amount of water. By working with layer upon layer, an artist can build color intensity and depth, even though each individual layer remains relatively transparent. This technique requires a certain degree of skill and control, as the fluid nature of watercolor paint means it can be difficult to correct if mistakes are made.
Watercolors have been used throughout history, from fine calligraphic works to landscape painting and portraiture, and are still popular with artists today for their portability and the unique beauty they can create. Watercolor painting offers an immediacy and a sense of spontaneity that can be difficult to achieve with more opaque painting techniques, and its finished work can exude a sense of freshness and vibrancy that is deeply appealing.