The Bold First Wash

When putting down a big first wash, it's easy to be fooled by the white of the paper and therefore be intimidated into putting down a cautious, wimpy first wash.  Almost any wash you put down on the white of the paper is going to look darker than it will eventually look.  Successive washes can be much darker when placed on top of the first one.

So it's a good idea to put down a bold, brave wash of intense color, especially when carving out the whites.
When it's wet, it will look darker than it is, and next to the pure white of the paper, it will seem even darker. But risk it, and you'll see!