Transparent Watercolor Ground by Daniel Smith gives virtually any surface a new texture similar to cold-press watercolor paper. This allows you to use watercolor techniques on materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, plastic, glass, stone, clay and more.
The formulation is archival quality and acid free, making it suitable for long-lasting artworks. In addition to serving as a watercolor ground, it can also be used to add controlled texture or to cover minor surface imperfections before painting or mixed media applications.
When applied at approximately 2mm thickness, one 4oz (118ml) jar covers about 0.7 square meters. For reference, a 55 × 76 cm watercolor sheet equals 0.42 square meters, meaning one jar covers roughly 1.5 large sheets.
This transparent ground allows the surface of the substrate — such as wood grain or decorative paper — to show through while painting, integrating the base material into the final composition.
👉 Features:
- Transparent watercolor ground
- Creates a cold-press–like watercolor surface
- Suitable for paper, board, canvas, wood, metal, ceramic, plastic, glass, stone, clay and more
- Archival Quality
- Acid Free
- Excellent light resistance
- Highly durable surface resistant to scratching
- High coverage
- Easy brush application
- Suitable for mixed media beyond watercolor
- Size: 4oz (118ml)
👍 Ideal for:
- Watercolor on non-traditional surfaces
- Mixed media and experimental work
- Projects where the substrate remains visible
- Surface preparation before painting
✨ Inspiration Tip:
Apply the ground to wood panels or patterned paper and build transparent watercolor layers to create depth while letting the surface texture remain part of the artwork.
