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Watercolor Painting Tutorials

9 Practical Tips for Working with Watercolor Paint Tubes

Tube watercolors pack more punch than pans, but they’ll test your patience if you don’t know the tricks. Here are 9 real-world tips for opening, mixing, and storing them without the frustration.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 3 min read
9 Practical Tips for Using Watercolor Paint Tubes

Tube watercolors pack way more punch than pans — stronger color, better control, but they’ll also drive you nuts if you don’t know a few tricks. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way in the garage studio.

1. Opening Tubes Without the Drama

New tubes fight back. Twist counterclockwise. If the cap’s locked on like Fort Knox, grab needle-nose pliers with a rag around the metal. Some brands seal the tops with foil or plastic — scrape that off first. Don’t force it or you’ll strip the threads.

2. Getting Paint Out Cleanly

Squeeze from the bottom like toothpaste. Roll it up as you go. Keep a damp rag nearby to wipe the nozzle every time — dried paint around the threads = a cap you’ll never open again.

3. How Much Paint to Squeeze

More than you think. Running out mid-mix is a nightmare. I load up enough for the whole session plus a little extra. Watercolor stays workable longer than you’d guess.

4. Mixing Technique

Always start with clean water on the brush, then grab color from your palette. Don’t stab your brush into the tube — you’ll waste paint and wreck the tip. Palette first, paper second.

5. Straight from the Tube?

Only for heavy texture or bold accents. Squeeze it onto the palette, then go for it. Never dip into the tube — that’s how you contaminate colors and shred brushes.

6. Keep Paint Workable

Spray bottle = lifesaver. A light mist over the palette keeps things from turning into cement, especially in dry studios or under hot lights.

7. Storage Reality

Upright in a box, caps tight, room temp. In the garage, bring them inside in winter — frozen tubes split and leak everywhere. Ask me how I know.

8. Reviving Dried Paint

Drop in water slowly and stir it back. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s trash. Depends on the pigment and how long it’s been dead.

9. Cap Maintenance

Scrape dried paint off threads before it builds up. Fingernail, stiff brush — whatever works. Skip this step and you’ll be sawing the cap off with a hacksaw later.

👉 Bottom line: watercolor tubes are amazing once you figure out the quirks. Treat them right and they’ll keep you painting instead of fighting dried-up caps and busted tubes.

Continue Learning

👉 Next stop: check out my Free Watercolor Painting Course or browse the Watercolor Tutorials Hub to keep building your skills.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links are affiliates, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend materials I use regularly, often from Blick Art Materials. Your support keeps my tutorials free and ad-free—thank you!

Here are the materials I use all the time and have for decades. I only buy from Blick Art but feel free to shop where you prefer.

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