How can I get seamless sunset washes without harsh lines?

[JohnL]

I've been painting with watercolors for about a year now and I'm really struggling with my watercolor techniques for creating realistic skies. Every time I try a graded wash for a sunset, I either get harsh lines where the colors meet or the paper gets overworked and starts to pill. I'm using Arches cold-pressed paper and professional-grade paints, so I don't think it's the materials. I've watched tutorials on wet-on-wet blending, but my timing always seems off. How do you control the moisture level on both the paper and your brush to get those smooth, seamless transitions without the colors turning muddy? Any specific tips would be a huge help.

[LarryB]

Nice topic the sky really tests watercolor control To keep edges soft use a steady moisture level on both paper and brush Pre dampen a wide area so the surface stays uniform then lay down a pale wash and float in deeper tones while it remains damp This wet on wet approach helps avoid harsh lines and pills

[Amelia85]

Casual note I find it helps to keep the paper surface even by pre wetting and using a bigger brush for the initial sweep so colors blend rather than meet abruptly

[Tyler_J]

Personal experience I use a three step drill keep light in first pass then build with small additions letting each layer settle before adding the next

[RobertR]

Unsure or speculative if you still struggle try a lighter touch and test with a practice sheet to dial in moisture levels and timing before attempting a full sunset