Michele Clamp Art

Watercolor paintings, tutorials, and videos

Watercolor Boat Painting Tutorial

Fishing Boat watercolor painting by Michele Clamp

Want to paint this watercolor boat painting? Follow the step by step instructions (including video at the end) and see how easy this can be!

I just can’t resist painting boats in watercolor. The colors, the details, the sun and shadow – all come together to make painting these watercolor boats so much fun. In this watercolor boat tutorial I break down all the steps and show you how you can paint this scene. Boat watercolor paintings can seem daunting but if you take things slowly it’s amazing how they come together.

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Watercolor materials needed.

  • Mechanical pencil
  • Watercolor paper (I like Fabriano Artistco 140lb cold press)
  • Permanent rose
  • Vermillion/pyrrole red/naphthol red
  • Ultramarine blue
  • Cobalt blue/cerulean blue
  • Yellow ochre
  • Lemon yellow
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Value Scale
  • Color isolator
  • Palette/paper towels/water pot
  • Small spray bottle of water

Watercolor Boat Drawing

Watercolor fishing boats drawing

The drawing for this painting is pretty important. Sometimes I won’t put much detail into a drawing and just indicate the main shapes. For instance a landscape with trees can be pretty sparse in the drawing. All the detail and texture goes in by eye with just paint. But for this scene there is a lot going on and we want to indicate the position of a lot of different things.

Using a Grid Helps With Drawing Accuracy

I did this drawing by eye but, if you’re not confident with your drawing, you can grid up your paper lightly with pencil and draw it square by square. That way you can be sure you’re getting everything in the right place. It’s not a foolproof method but it gives you far less room for error. I’ve included a gridded up version of the reference below.

Fishing boat reference photo with grid

The aspect ratio of the photo is the same as for a 10″x14″ piece of watercolor paper. If you mark your paper into quarters on each side and join them up to make a 4×4 grid you can transfer the drawing more easily onto your paper.

Take Some Time to Make a Plan for Your Painting

Before we dive into the painting it always helps to take a few minutes and plan out what you’re going to do. It can be hard to do this – we want to jump straight in and get those brushes moving and paint splashing around. But a few minutes thought at the start always makes for a better painting. We can spot possible problem areas and make sure we know roughly how we’re going to proceed.

Which Direction is the Light Coming From?

I first make note of where the light is coming from and where the shadows fall. In this case the sun is on our right and the shadows are falling on the left. This is always good to keep in the back of your mind. If the reference is unclear in some areas you can work out how the lights and darks should fall even if you can’t make it out from the photo.

Where are the Lights and Darks?

The next thing I do is note where my lightest lights are and my darkest darks. Once we’ve located these then we know that everything else has to fall somewhere between those areas. In this case our lightest light is the white hull on the left boat. The darkest darks are in the shadow underneath the boats and possibly inside the cabins. I keep this in mind. Nothing else can be darker or lighter than these areas.

Where are the Main Shapes and Values?

This one is trickier but it pays off giving it some thought. Even though there’s a lot of detail going on in this photo I like to break it down into 4 or 5 main value shapes. In this case I would estimate (or measure using our value scale) the value of the following areas

  • The hulls of the boats (in light and shadow)
  • The cabins of the boats (in light and shadow)

This may seem like a lot to work out ahead of time but getting those big value shapes right is an enormous help getting a scene to hang together and getting it to be convincing.

Identify a Few of the Colors

Watercolor Color Swatches

Doing some test mixes of a few of the main colors can also be a good idea. It’s much easier to do this before the painting. When you’re in the middle of the painting there’s so much going on it’s hard to stop and think about this. It’s a bit like prepping for a recipe. Getting all the ingredients measured out ready ahead of time makes putting a meal together much easier. (Not that I ever really do that – but I should!) In this painting I mixed as I went along but it’s a better idea to try out your color mixes at the start. If you think you can’t remember how you mixed your colors then putting a pencil note next to the swatch is a good idea. It’s doesn’t have to be anything complicated – just a list of the colors is enough.

Watercolor Boat Painting – Finally we Paint!

Paint the cabins in the lightest value

So let’s start painting. We’re going to paint this in layers and build up the painting from light to dark. We’re first going to block in all the shapes with their lightest colors. Once those are dry we can go back in and add in the darks. This way of working takes a bit of getting used to. As we’re starting with the light colors of all the shapes things won’t start to look three dimensional until quite late on in the painting.

Finished pink carnation watercolor painting tutorials

I have many more step-by-step tutorials and videos!

We want things to look flat to start with..

If we put in too much value variation in the early stages then the darks won’t make as much impact when we put those in. In these early stages try and match the color and value as best you can to the reference. And, most importantly, keep these early washes even. Don’t be tempted to try and make things look right at this stage. It takes a bit of faith but once you get used to it it will all make sense.

Keep Going With the Light Values

The hull of this boat is a stronger color

Keep going across all of the main shapes of the boats. One thing to remember is that we’re putting in the light value of each different shape but these values may vary from shape to shape. For instance, the hull of the red boat is a bright orange-red in the light. The actual value of this is around a 5 i.e. mid-way down the value scale. If we compare this to the beige area above we can see that it’s a little darker. The beige area in the light is around a 7 but it’s still in the light.

Similarly the red stripe on the left hand boat is around a 4 (i.e. darker than a mid-value) in the light. If you have a value scale and a printout of the reference you can measure the values directly. If the color is distracting (and it can be with bright colors like these) squint your eyes and it becomes easier to judge value.

Use the ChromaMagic Tool to Measure Color

chromamagic for fishing boat watercolor painting

Alternatively you can load up the reference in ChromaMagic and click on different areas. It will show you the three components of the color – hue, value and chroma. The color notation is part of the Munsell way of measuring color. It is incredibly useful in painting and makes color very straightforward to analyze.

Paint in the Sea in the Background

Add the sea in a fairly dark blue

The sea in the background goes in next. This is a fairly dark blue and helps to tie the boats in the scene and give us some depth.

As you can see at this point the painting isn’t looking three-dimensional. Don’t panic! This is exactly how it should be looking at this point.

Paint in the Sand Around Your Watercolor Boats

Add a wash for the sand

Next we’re going to put in the sand. I really like this bit as we get to put in some texture with our spray bottle. One thing to be careful of – sand isn’t yellow. Or rather it is yellow but a very grayed out low chroma yellow. In this scene it’s a kind of beige so make sure you add in some black to your mix to take out some of the brightness. I’ve made the mistake of painting sand far too bright in color many times. Again mixing a swatch of color beforehand helps a lot as does using ChromaMagic for checking the chroma.

Use a Spray Bottle to Add Texture

While your sand wash is still wet take a spray bottle of water and lightly spritz the surface. If the paper is the right level of dampness the water will add small sparkles and splodges in the paint. It adds some interest and texture to the foreground. This can take a bit of practice to get right. If the paper is too wet the water will just disperse and disappear. If the paper is too dry the water won’t do anything at all.

Watercolor Boat Painting – Add the Sky

Start the watercolor sky

Note: I’ve got the order slightly wrong here. I’ve already put in some of the darks on the boats before doing the sky. The order doesn’t really matter. You can put in the sky before the shadows and everything should work out fine.

Let’s put in some sky now. The reference photo doesn’t really have much in the way of clouds and I didn’t really want a big expanse of blue up there. So I’ve invented some cloud shapes. You have a lot of freedom here. Put in some blue around wherever you fancy the clouds to be. While the paint is wet take a clean (very clean) damp brush and soften the edges of the clouds. The blue pigment will diffuse out into the damp areas of paper making lovely soft and convinving clouds.

Watercolor Boat Painting – Second Layer Darks

Add shadows on the cabins and the hulls

Now this bit is where the painting starts to come to life. We’re going to put in the shadow sides of the objects and make them look three-dimensional. Adding in these contrasting areas also helps the visual impact of the scene and it will make the image more interesting as well as more realistic.

Don’t Add Color in the Light!

We’ve already painted in the light sides of our objects so we won’t be putting any color in there at all. We’re just going to paint in the shadow colors on mostly the left sides. Make sure your colors are at least a couple of shades darker than your light sides and things will start to take shape. When you get to the insides of the cabins we’re even darker as very little light is getting in there – you don’t need to paint things – just a few dark shapes at different angles will suggest a lot of detail.

Be careful with the shadow on the white hull. We don’t want to go too dark here and keeping that shadow light will really suggest strong sun.

Add a Cast Shadow to Anchor the Boats to the Ground

Finally add some cast shadows on the sand and right at the bottom of the boats. This will make the boats convincingly anchored to the ground.

The Magic Bit – Details on Your Watercolor Boat Painting

Details - masts and rigging

By this point you should have something that’s looking pretty three-dimensional. This next bit really adds sparkle and interest to your watercolor boat painting! We’re going to put in some lovely details. Put in the masts and rigging with a small synthetic brush. Make sure they’re not too dark – a mid value gray is plenty dark enough here. The other thing to take care with is not to make your lines too continuous. Leave a few gaps here and there as it will make the masts more convincing than if you carefully paint them in one continuous line.

Masts are put in lightly - not too dark

Continue with the masts and smaller details. Add in a few lines for the railings and the ropes holding the buoys. A few light lines on the white hull will also suggest their structure. I hope everything is looking really good by now!

Flags and Signs

Final details in your watercolor boat - flags and signs

We’re right at the end now. A few red marks for the flags will add a pop of color. The signs on the boat go in with an almost black background. The lettering is suggested with a little opaque white.

Final Thoughts on This Watercolor Boat Painting

If you tried this painting I hope it turned out well. I would love to see your results – please feel free to send them to me. I have also videoed the whole process and you can paint along with the full painting.

YouTube player

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2 thoughts on “ Watercolor Boat Painting Tutorial ”

Hi Michele, Kathy Martinez here. I am working with the ColorMagic tool. Love it except for one problem I am having. My monitor is a Cintiq 32 inch display that I have supposedly color corrected with an i1 display gizmo. The colors for the Munsell chips from

Kathy your program don’t come through to match my big book Munsell chips. It is way off. My cintiq screen pretty matches my Ipad. Do you have any suggestions? I have just been finding the chip I have that matches the color swatches from ColorMagic, even though they aren’t the same as described in the program.

Hi Kathy – I replied by email. I was thinking that it may well be hard to match chips directly to the screen. I’m going to try with a setup that I know the colors off and see how it goes. ColorMagic will report the colors in the photo accurately but whether you can match to the display directly may not be possible. Screens give out light and chips only reflect the light so comparing them side by side is going to make the chips always look dark. But maybe there’s something else going on! We’ll see. If it’s fixable we’ll fix it.

Comments are closed.

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How to Paint a Sailboat Watercolor Painting Tutorial

Sailing is one of my favorite things to do and painting sailboats is almost as fun! This lovely sailboat flew in the wind on Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island, Maine. It was one of those perfect sailing days. The light sparkled, the wind blew steadily and the last of summer heated the air. Since I didn't have a sailboat there, I sketched and took photos of the sailboats moving up and down the Sound.

The shimmering water is the tricky part of this painting. It's a great opportunity to practice your dry brush! This painting needs rough press paper to get that sparkling water. The rest of the painting is simple. Trees in the distance and a pared down palette. Keep the colors and your brush strokes simple. Sailing at its finest on a summer day in Maine!

How to Paint a Sailboat Watercolor Painting tutorial

Painting Tutorial Level

Skill Building

M. Graham watercolors

Painting Demonstration 1

sailboat watercolour painting

Always sketch very lightly in watercolor since most pencil lines will show. You want the focus on the painting, not the drawing. Unless, of course, you're highlighting the pencil lines!

sailboat watercolour painting

Since I'm painting a light object with a lot of brushstrokes around it (for the water) I can either mask it out, preserve highlights with wax or use white gouache. I decide on a combination of the last two since they feel more spontaneous than masking and I don't have too many bright highlights.

When you use a wax crayon, always remember it's there for better or worse. It will not come off and leave paper the same!

Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for. These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!

Painting Demonstration 2

sailboat watercolour painting

I want barely there water sparkling in the background. Very pale highlights and dark shadows, so dry brush is the solution! Dry brush and texture is why I chose the rough press paper, after all.

With a tricky dry brush where every stroke shows, I like to test the brush a few times on an area of the painting that isn't quite so tricky or a scrap of paper. As you can see, I got the texture just right in the trees at the upper part of the painting. Some extra texture there is perfect and it will be dark enough the individual strokes don't show.

Since all those strokes show up in the water, make them count! Move your brush with the waves. Notice how highlights show up in horizontal swathes across the water. Work with the water, not against it.

A squirrel hair brush is perfect for hit and miss dry brush like this. It barely touches the ridges of the paper so you can really get that sparkle!

sailboat watercolour painting

Painting Demonstration 3

How to Paint a Sailboat Painting Tutorial 3

Since this is dry brush, there's no time between washes! I continue moving around the painting, using slightly varying blues and values. This gives me that great water shimmer! If some of the dry brush hits a still wet area, great! that gives a natural feeling variation.

I still keep everything light in value in this wash. I don't want thick sludgy paint, but effervescent sparkle!

Artist Tips

sailboat watercolour painting

Painting Demonstration 4

How to Paint a Sailboat Painting Tutorial 4

Now that dark background! I want a bit of a a golden glow, but subtle instead of harsh so I use quinacridone gold. This is one of the few paintings I never use a yellow in!

I paint a loose wet brush on dry paper wash of the gold, then drop in pthalocyanine green. I'm keeping it loose since the background is not the focus, the sailboat is!

The reflection of the sailboat is also a golden glow in the water, so I use quinacridone gold again. I'm still painting dry brush since I want the water to sparkle there too, not be dulled. The reflection is also a shadow which makes it quite complicated to paint.

Painting Demonstration 5

How to Paint a Sailboat Painting Tutorial 5

Now it's time to turn the golden green into hazy rich darks. While it's drying, I move maroon perylene into the trees to darken them. The rich red helps with the strong, clear color. Then I scrabble in ultramarine blue to make the trees green again. Finally, I add cobalt blue for the slightly opaque haze.

I dash quinacridone dry brush on the wooden mast. A bit of ultramarine blue and pthalo green gives shape to the boat.

Painting Demonstration 6

How to Paint a Sailboat Watercolor Painting Tutorial 6

After the painting has dried completely, I start on the sail. The gorgeous sail is really the star of the painting so it's fun to finally start painting it! Still, it has to be kept simple since there really isn't much to the sail. Quinacridone gold gives the faint glow of the reflecting sun.

I continue adding texture and color to the waves. I need strong darks to balance out the background trees.

I keep a light hand on the waves since the lovely shimmering could be destroyed with a few strokes too many!

Painting Demonstration 7

How to Paint a Sailboat Watercolor Painting Tutorial 7

The last stage is the details and it's hard to keep them from getting too fussy!

I continue the details on the sail. I use the top mainsail reinforcement as an excuse to dull down the arrow pointing the viewer out of the painting!

How to Paint a Sailboat Watercolor Painting demonstration

To purchase How to Paint a Sailboat original watercolor painting, please click!

How to Paint a Sailboat Final Watercolor Painting!

Related Art Lessons

Sunset Clouds watercolor painting tutorial

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23 Free Watercolor Painting Tutorials for Beginners

  • by Amy @amyvsnelling

Learn basic techniques, tips for fixing mistakes, and more as you unlock the creative possibilities of working with watercolor

Watercolor is a versatile medium that’s popular with artists of all skill levels . From its relatively low barrier to entry (you’ll only need a few basic materials) to the eye-catching colors and effects you can achieve, there are loads of reasons why you might want to explore the world of watercolor.

However, at the same time, the unpredictable and fluid nature of working with watercolors can be intimidating for beginners and experienced painters alike…

To help you get started, read on for expert advice and professional tips in these twenty free watercolor tutorials . Here, you’ll learn basic techniques , experiment with different styles to improve your skills , discover tips to overcome creative block , and lots more.

23 Free Watercolor Painting Tutorials for Beginners 4

Tutorials to learn the basics of working with watercolor

Pick up and practice essential skills, including the basic rules of working with watercolor to specific techniques like wet-on-wet.

1. Watercolor Tutorial: Wet-on-Wet Technique

Wet-on-wet is a technique in which you apply paint to a wet surface , whether that’s a wet sheet of paper or over another layer of paint that’s still wet, to create an effect in which the colors blend together.

It’s also a technique that requires a basic knowledge of how watercolors work , including how long they take to dry, when to use more opaque or watery colors, and how to mix different shades well to avoid undesired results (or even use them to your advantage).

In this tutorial, visual artist and illustrator Ana Santos ( @anasantos ) introduces you to the basics of how to use the wet-on-wet technique to successfully blend watercolors.

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2. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Fix and Avoid Mistakes on Wet Paper

While the wet-on-wet technique allows you to blend pigments with remarkable effects, the fluid nature of the technique also means that mistakes happen. However, by learning how the paint reacts to water on paper, you can avoid errors, blooms, and ineffective layering—plus, you’ll better understand how to fix any mistakes you do make .

In this tutorial by watercolorist and wildlife painter Sarah Stokes ( @sarah_stokes ), she teaches you her top tips to fix and avoid mistakes on wet paper .

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3. Watercolor Tutorial: Basic Mark-Making Techniques

Amy Pearson ( @amypearsondesign ) is an illustrator who combines traditional and digital techniques to create vivid mixed-media illustrations.

One of her techniques involves crafting bright and beautiful strokes using watercolors that can then be scanned and edited in Photoshop before being incorporated into digital illustrations. But, in order to achieve the desired effect, first it’s important to learn the rules of working with watercolor.

Here, Amy shares her basic techniques, teaching you how to create hand-painted watercolor strokes, shapes, and marks for any project, including suggestions for blending colors and exploring different effects.

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4. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Paint with Brushes and Watercolor Pencils

Understanding how your tools work for you and the project you’re working on is an essential part of watercolor painting . Whether it’s watercolor brushes or pencils, metallic or ceramic palettes for mixing, the materials you use and how you use them will help bring an artwork to life.

In this tutorial by illustrator Naranjalidad ( @naranjalidad ), you’ll learn tips for painting with brushes and watercolor pencils , with top advice for mixing colors to get the most out of your tools.

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Get to grips with watercolor color theory

Learn about the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and how to apply this theory to your watercolor works to create captivating color combinations.

5. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Create Shadow Using Color Theory

A self-taught watercolor artist based in the UK, Sarah Stokes paints enchanting artworks inspired by wildlife and nature. In order to paint the expressive scenes and incredibly detailed animal portraits for which she’s known, Sarah uses the rules of color theory and the color wheel to help her achieve natural-looking shadows, definition, and textures .

To get a better understanding of how to create shades that can be used to aid composition, depth, and balance, learn how to use color theory to paint shadows in this beginner’s tutorial .

Sarah will introduce you to the theory as she shows you how to use a color wheel to identify complementary colors to your base color, and how to create a muddier version of this shade to add shadow.

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6. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Create a Color Palette

The natural world is bursting with color: a blue bird isn’t just blue, its feathers feature hues of blue, violets, and spots of gray—which is why it’s important to think carefully about your color palette when drawing nature scenes.

In this tutorial, illustrator Antonia Reyes (@antoniapajarito) explains how to create your own color palette for nature-inspired illustration .

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7. Illustration Tutorial: How to Color with Watercolor

A medium that allows for flexibility and room for experimentation, you can use watercolor to create a huge array of colors, from rich and vibrant hues to lighter, transparent tones.

If you want to explore ideas and coloring techniques to make your illustrations pop, in this tutorial on how to color with watercolor , illustrator and author Paula Bossio ( @paulabossio ) goes over a series of techniques that will add color to your artworks.

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Tutorials to overcome creative block

Creative block is an issue that every artist faces now and then. Regardless of your discipline or level of experience, the blank page can feel intimidating—but you can work to overcome this fear with exercises and regular practice. Learn how to let your imagination flow as freely as watercolors do with these free tutorials.

8. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Unlock Your Creativity

In this tutorial, illustrator and graphic designer Alinailustra ( @alinailustra ) teaches you tips to unleash your creativity using a simple-but-imaginative practice exercise in which you will transform splodges into characters and scenes.

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9. Watercolor Tutorial: Basic Exercises to Inspire Your Painting

Botanical illustrator and artist Cristina Cilloniz ( @cristina_cilloniz ) shares simple exercises to loosen up your hand , all while learning different techniques to practice creating transparency and opacity, gradients, pulse and precision, water use, and more. As well as inspiring your painting process, these tips will also help you create softer layers with watercolors.

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10. Watercolor Tutorial: Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Water and Get Started

According to designer Paulina Maciel ( @pau_maciel ), painting with watercolors is more than a technique, it is an attitude. It might sound intimidating, but as she emphasizes, to fully master the art form, it’s really all about practice and experience.

If you’re ready to express your creativity without fear, discover her top techniques, practice exercises, and tips to start painting with watercolor .

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11. Illustration Tutorial: How to Draw From Your Imagination

Memories can serve as a great source of inspiration for your creative projects—whether it’s from a moment that springs to mind or something triggered by old photos or a song, you can draw on the emotions they conjure to paint pieces packed with feeling.

In this tutorial, illustrator and designer Violeta Hernández ( @soyvioleta ) shows you how to use memories to inspire your illustrations and let your imagination soar.

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Tutorials for painting leaves and trees

Watercolor is a particularly popular medium when it comes to drawing the natural world thanks to small details, striking colors, and various effects you can achieve. Learn tips and tricks for using watercolor to create scenes inspired by the natural world in these tutorials.

12. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Paint a Banana Tree Leaf

Learn how to identify the details and paint a banana tree leaf in this tutorial from artist Isabela Quintes ( @isabelaquintes ). Sharing straightforward advice along the way, she teaches you the importance of knowing your brush size, different brush strokes, and the amount of water to use—and how these factors will transform your work.

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13. Botanical Illustration Tutorial: How To Draw A Tree

Explore the fantastic art of botanical illustration in this tutorial by Paulina Maciel. Here, the designer and illustrator behind Canela Estudio explains how to draw and paint a tree from scratch using a very simple method and easily accessible materials.

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14. Watercolor Tutorial: Paint a Leaf, Step-by-Step

It’s safe to say Swiss cheese plants (also known as Monstera deliciosa) are having a moment right now. Native to the tropical forest of southern Mexico, these plants are popular in homes all around the world for their distinctive, glossy green leaves —this also makes them a great subject for watercolor.

In this tutorial from botanical watercolor artist Luli Reis ( @lulireis ), learn how to paint a Swiss cheese plant leaf . You’ll discover all of the steps, including observing the small details that enable you to recreate the colors, shadows, textures, and then how to translate those details onto the page .

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Tutorials to experiment with different styles

From tips for composing architectural illustrations to experimenting with photos to mixing up your painting materials, improve your skills by playing around with different techniques and styles.

15. Architectural Drawing Tutorial: How to Create a Good Composition

Composition is the foundation of any illustration—especially when it comes to architectural sketching—which is why before you start putting paintbrush to paper, you may want to plan out your scene first.

In this tutorial, watercolor artist Alex Hillkurtz ( @alexhillkurtzart ) teaches you different techniques to create a strong composition , from the rule of thirds to creating contrasts and details using colors to take your watercolor works to the next level.

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16. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Paint With a Sponge

Another great thing about watercolors is that there’s always room to play around with different tools and materials . This is exactly what illustrator Berta Llonch does ( @bertallonch_ ). As someone who specializes in watercolor, she knows well that making the most of the discipline means leaning into the unexpected—and so she takes advantage of that.

Join Berta as she leans into the unexpected in this tutorial where you’ll learn how to add highlights, shadows, and textures to your nature illustrations with an alternative technique: painting watercolor with a sponge .

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17. Watercolor Tutorial: How to Experiment with Photos

Continue on your journey of experimentation by learning how to add color and effects to photographs using watercolors in this tutorial by documentalist, photographer, and visual artist Carine Wallauer ( @wallauercarine ). Sharing her knowledge and experience, she shows you how to combine the two disciplines to create striking artworks.

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18. Watercolor Tutorial: How To Paint Eyes Step By Step

There’s a reason they say that eyes are the window to the soul: of all facial features, eyes are the most expressive and can add personality to a portrait—which is why it’s also important to pay particular attention to the details.

But where do you start when it comes to watercolor? And how do you emphasize the details ? In this tutorial, artist and muralist Sol Barrios ( @solbarrios ) shares his technique for painting eyes, step by step .

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19. Illustration Tutorial: Watercolor Lettering

If you’re interested in hand-lettering, adding watercolor to the mix can be a great way to add unique textures, create a natural feel, and inject extra artistic flair into your projects.

To help you on your way, painter and illustrator Ana Victoria Calderón ( @anavictoriana ) shares five practical watercolor lettering exercises and tips in this free tutorial. Learn to find your personal style, craft confident brushstrokes , and more.

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20. Illustration Tutorial: Japanese Brushstrokes and the Sumi-e Technique

Although originally practiced with ink, Sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) techniques can also be applied to other materials—such as watercolors.

Experiment with the style in this tutorial on Japanese brushstrokes and sumi-e techniques as illustrator Flor Kaneshiro ( @florkaneshiro ) shares her top tips for pressure, speed, direction, and rhythm .

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21. Painting Tutorial: How to Paint Skin Tones in Watercolor

In this tutorial, Emma Thrussell demonstrates the art of painting realistic skin tones with watercolor. Focusing on pre-painted witch characters, she skillfully guides viewers through mixing and layering varying shades, from light yellows to deep umbers. Thrussell's technique, which emphasizes building up from light washes to achieve depth and realism, is accessible for artists of all levels. Her tutorial shines in teaching the delicate balance of water and pigment, essential for creating lifelike watercolor portraits.

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22. How to Paint different Backgrounds with Watercolor

In this engaging tutorial, Sarah Stokes skillfully demonstrates creating watercolor washes for backgrounds. She blends warm and cool colors effortlessly using the wet-on-wet technique, and shares valuable tips on color mixing and texture creation. Perfect for artists at any level, Sarah’s approachable style makes mastering watercolor techniques seem both fun and achievable. Her insights into the dynamic nature of watercolors are particularly inspiring, making this tutorial a great resource for anyone looking to enhance their artistic skills.

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23. How to Paint a Fish with Watercolor

In this watercolor tutorial, you'll learn how to paint a fish, starting with a basic pencil sketch and progressing to intricate watercolor techniques. Inga guides you through using a simple color palette to create realistic effects, focusing on blending and layering to bring the fish to life. Key techniques like adding shadows, creating fin details, and using mixed media for texture are covered. Perfect for artists at any level, this tutorial not only teaches practical skills but also encourages creative exploration with watercolors.

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Learn more about painting with watercolor

If these tutorials have sparked your interest in watercolor art, continue exploring and improving your skills with these online resources:

1. Discover all of Domestika's online watercolor painting courses , and learn how to create artistic portraits, botanical illustrations, landscapes, and lots more.

2. Get stuck into three essential watercolor books for beginners , packed with tips, techniques, and inspiration ideal for those new to the medium.

3. Learn about all the essential materials to start out in watercolor and gouache painting .

4. Master watercolor techniques with top advice from artist Sarah Stokes. In this post exclusively for Pro users, she answers top FAQs on how to paint with watercolor .

Virginia Castillo Muñoz

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12 comments

Redheadmary17.

Marylen Vail

I need English.

Liam

Don't they have any way to Get this in english

Helen Stanford

Yes, there are Closed Captions in English. Click on video, in lower right corner you will see the letters CC in a box. Click on the CC box and closed captions wil pop up on bottom of video.

Dian Nugrahaningsari

@redheadmary17 me, too Cannot work while reading the translation

Kim Johnson

marydennison

Mary Dennison

No good if you have to keep reading instead of following along listening @emkenpam

hmmmingbird

hmmmingbird

That’s why there’s a pause button

Carole Farmer

lopezmason4441958

That's so great. When surfing all the sites I have to stop here. It was so much about painting that I had to stop to learn. I've watched over and over again the youtube videos here and it's still good. I will search other related youtubers of those posted here to find out more. we become what we behold I love art very much. I am very passionate when watching clips about painting. They are really attractive to me

Rodolfo Gomez S.

@marydennison bienvenida a nuestro mundo donde todo lo bueno esta en inglés x3

denisakadlecova

denisakadlecova

I have attended so many drawing classes, yet I still can't even draw a house or a heart . :( It's not only creative block..I think it's because I'm not good at drawing.

caylakling8

Very useful article that gives us a lot of new information. Slope Unblocked

Florence Puydt

Dommage...... Je ne comprends que le Français !! Déçu !

lauryfriese932

I liked the idea, it's expected that all this luxury will be from this beautiful game Candy Crush

Holly Dvorak

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51 Watercolor Painting Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

By: Author Jasmine Dhillon

Posted on Last updated: August 5, 2023

Categories Crafts & DIY , Painting Ideas

Looking for some inspiration for your next watercolor painting project? Look no further than this comprehensive list of 51 watercolor painting ideas! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, these ideas are sure to ignite your creativity and help you take your painting skills to the next level. From vibrant landscapes to intricate portraits, this list has something for everyone.

So grab your brushes and watercolors and let’s dive in!

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Watercolor Painting Supplies

The beauty of painting with watercolors is the bare minimum supplies you need to get started. Simple watercolor paints, a couple basic brushes and some watercolor paper is all you need. You can also keep an art journal and practice all your techniques and paintings in. That way you can see your progress and it keeps things nice and tidy.

You can also check out this watercolor painting supplies post by Thaneeya from Art is Fun to get the materials list and recommended products. Also be sure to check out this 7 watercolor painting tips post by Strathmore which will go over paint brush types, other materials and tips when working with this medium.

Now let’s get inspired with some awesome watercolor painting ideas!

51 Watercolor Painting Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity

Get inspired by this list of watercolor painting ideas designed for the beginner watercolor artist. These 51 ideas are easy, fun and totally do-able for anyone diving into this simple art-form.

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Easy Watercolor Hacks and Techniques: Tips & Tricks for Beginner

Watercolor techniques make for easy ideas when starting with this medium. They're very simple and non-intimidating since you're not making a full composition.

You'll also get to practice with the properties of watercolor paints which will help you in future paintings. These ingenious ideas by Karo make for wonderful backgrounds too. Just add some beautiful hand letterring quotes over top, or use pens/markers for a fun mixed media piece, the sky is the limit!

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Easy Watercolor Sunset Tutorial for Beginners

Sunset's are an easy landscape idea to start with, and gets those watercolor paints flowing off your brush and onto your paper. Paint this beautiful and serene sunset with the help of this easy to follow YouTube tutorial.

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How to paint a pair of Red Cardinals in Watercolor

Birds can seem intimidating but they are very do-able, even for beginners. Learn how to paint these meaningful and gorgeous birds as a pair: the male cardinal (red) and the female (brown/grey) sitting on a branch. Follow the detailed and well explained video tutorial by Diane to learn how.

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How To Paint Easy Watercolor Eagle

Eagles are a sign of strength and bravery. Grow your watercolor painting skills with this brilliant step by step tutorial by the Art Sherpa. You'll complete this painting feeling much more confident and stronger all around. Cinnamon also includes a free printable eagle that you can use to trace before you begin (so don't worry about your drawing skills!).

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How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly

Learn how to paint this blue morpho butterfly in this detailed step by step tutorial. Usually drawing and painting butterflies are challenging, but this tutorial breaks down the steps so it's do-able for all skill levels. You can use this butterfly technique with different colors and in different projects.

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Easy watercolor night sky 2 in 1 painting tutorial

Love the nigh sky? Why not capture it's mesmerizing mystery in a 2 in 1 painting. Follow this YouTube painting tutorial to paint a couple versions of the northern lights. You'll learn how to layer when painting in the background and foreground elements.

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DIY Modern Blue Agate Watercolor Art

Looking to paint something you can add to your decor at home, that's also easy enough for a beginner to tackle? This is the perfect project for you! In this tutorial you'll learn how to paint all the layers and jagged rings in this gorgeous agate art.

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Draw + Paint a Daisy in Watercolour

Looking for a pick-me-up painting that leaves you in a cheerful and happy mood? Then paint this beautiful daisy art piece with a vibrant and bright abstract background. Aaria will also show you how to add extra depth and dimension to each daisy petal with a simple mechanical pencil!

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Watercolor Still Life Painting: Apples in a Basket

If you want real-life inspiration, one of the easiest objects to paint in a still-life style are apples! Follow this beginner tutorial by Erika and paint these apples that look so good you could eat. You'll only be using 4 simple paint colors too, which keeps with the simplicity of this painting.

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How to paint a cute bunny with watercolor

Hop your way into watercolors with this beginner bunny tutorial. Start out with a basic sketch, then paint the layers of this cute bunny. Use it in Easter themed painting ideas or crafts -or just because! Hip-pity hop on over to the tutorial to paint this hare-raising critter.

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Botanical Watercolor Leaves Tutorial

If you're looking for a slightly more advanced watercolor project, this botanical painting will help "grow" your skill. Learn each step on how to recreate this gorgeous green leaf with all-the-details.

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Relaxing and Easy Fern Watercolor Leaf

Ferns have a fascinating pattern that makes them a great botanical inspired subject matter to paint. It's also a fairly easy botanical to paint, that works for beginner watercolor artists. Check out this fabulous tutorial by Allison to learn how to paint these gorgeous ferns.

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Beginner Watercolor Landscape Tutorial

Landscapes are a very popular watercolor painting idea for beginners. This aesthetic and muted color palette would also look great framed and hung on your walls. Learn each step needed to paint landscapes in watercolor: background, middleground and background in this YouTube tutorial.

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Easy Landscape Mountains Watercolor Tutorial

Another great landscape painting idea that beautifully displays theatmospheric perspective with some mighty and majestic mountains. This tutorial also shows you how to make a lovely sunset. Complete this painting with a couple of birds flying high up in the sky.

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How To Paint A Loose Watercolor Landscape

Loosen up your brush work with this watercolor landscape piece. Don't get bogged down with the details, instead enjoy the process! You'll end up with a unique and keeper art piece you'll be proud of.

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How to Paint a Watercolor Portrait

Painting portraits are another timeless and classic painting idea. And you won't need skills like da Vinci to paint this gorgeous portrait. Follow the steps in the tutorial by Daniel to learn that anyone can paint portraits. You can even challenge yourself and paint a self portrait to show yourself some self-love.

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Colorful & Whimsical Abstract Wartercolor Art Tutorial

Abstracts are my favorite painting style, because your focus is more attuned to enjoying every brush stroke and making something unexpected but meaningful, instead of fixating on every brush stroke in order to get it to look like the end painting in mind.. It can be more enjoyable for some right off the bat, while intimidating for others to just "paint abstractly" without directions. If you're the later or even if you just want to give abstracts a try, then following a well detailed step by step tutorial like this one, can make a world of a difference.

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How to paint a dog with watercolors and mixed media

Thinking about making a pet portrait of your fave furry friend? But maybe you think it's out of your comfort and skill level to tackle such a project. Think again! You not only can tackle it but do wonders with it! Make your pup proud and head on over to this step by step tutorial and be guided through each step with ease.

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Simple Watercolor painting tutorial of romantic couple

What's more romantic than watching a sunset on a swing with your better half? Painting it together of-course! Plan a nice evening in with a couple of paintbrushes, one canvas and some paints and make this warm and fuzzy painting. This would also make a fab valentines day date night idea.

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Easy Watercolor Heart Painting For Preschoolers

The beauty of watercolors is that they can be both technical and simple, depending on the project. At the simple end of the spectrum, kids painting projects like this adorable one make watercolors a great paint medium for any age.

Since watercolors can be so easy and versatile to work with (all you need are the paints, brush, water and paper) they work especially well as classroom crafts/projects with kids. Did I mention easy cleanup too? Head on over to this tutorial and inspire your kiddies to make this beautiful frame-able keepsake for their wonderful grandmas.

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Watercolor: A Medium That Bleeds, Moves, Separates, Puddles, and Runs

I absolutely love this painting idea! It's simple project to make while the tutorial will also impart important qualities and properties of this fantastic medium. You'll learn how to make watercolor paint flow and bleed by adding the right amount of water allowing it to flow on the paper by blowing it. Once the heart is dried, then you'll pick up a simple pen and write meaningful or inspiring words, quotes, sayings that are personal to you.

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How to Paint A Beach Landscape with Watercolors

Paint a nice beach scene with this nicely detailed step by step tutorial. You'll learn how to make a beach landscape complete with soft sky, ocean water, waves, sand, tall grass and even some seagulls flying overhead. Jean will guide you through the painting each step of the way.

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How To Paint a Watercolor Seascape Scene

Another beautiful beach landscape for you to practice your watercolor skills with. Learn how to paint overcast fluffly clouds in the sky with the sun peaking through near the horizon. Then learn how to paint the blue ocean water sparkling under the southern sun. You'll complete this painting by learning to make sand colored paint and how to add detail to make the sand look realistic. You'll also learn to paint some realistic looking beachgrass in the foreground.

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Foggy Forest Watercolor Painting

This forest landscape may seem like you need years of experience to make because of its magical yet mysterious look, but this tutorial will show you how to recreate it yourself.

You'll also learn how to manipulate the pigment and saturation of watercolors in order to create depth with the trees. You'll paint some highly translucent trees in the background then build up the foreground with more saturated and opaque paint. And when it all comes together you'll get that wonderful foggy forest effect.

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Beautiful Sunset Through a Sea Cave Painting

Paint this lovely perspective painting with watercolors to practice the different elements of a lanscape. You'll learn the proper proportions of distant scenery elements like a sunset, mountains, horizon, ocean waves, etc. Then you'll add some foreground elements like this save cave opening that perfectly frames the sunset scene. You'll also learn how to create some pretty vibrant and punchy sunset colors in this tutorial.

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How to Paint Watercolor Fruit: Pineapple

Fruit is an easy painting idea that can also be fun and quick. In this tutorial you'll learn how to use masking fluid to create the pattern on the pinaepple's rind by creating a negative space effect. This effect by using masking fluid is a popular watercolor painting technique that many artists use. Check out the tutorial by Elise and paint yourself these tropical treats.

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How to Paint Fruits & Veggies

While this painting might not infuse your body with vitamins, it might inspire you to grab some of nature's candy to munch on while painting it. This excellent tutorial by Jenna will take you through how to create some luscious brushstrokes in order to paint a variety of fruits and veggies. Carrots, apple slices, blueberries, strawberries and lemons complete this painting. Head over to the detailed written and video tutorial and paint some wholesome goodness.

sailboat watercolour painting

7 Must-Know Watercolor Techniques For Beginners

Practice some ingenious watercolor techniques with this tutorial. These ideas work well when you're pressed for time but still want to paint. Practice a technique or 2 when you have a few minutes to spare and your future paintings will show for it! Plus they make for nifty backgrounds for other projects too - quote art, mixed media art, etc...

sailboat watercolour painting

How to Watercolor – A Complete Guide for Beginners

Don't know where to start with watercolors? Read this post first. You'll learn all the materials and tools you'll need to start. Then try any of the ideas listed in this post to use your new paints on.

sailboat watercolour painting

Watercolor Techniques for Beginners

Watercolor paints tend to have a stepper learning curve compared to other paints like acrylic and oil, so taking a bit of time at the beginning to practice some techniques is a great idea- especially for beginners. Try these wonderful techniques for some fun but important lessons with this paint.

sailboat watercolour painting

Ink on Watercolor Stenciled Painting Tutorial

You can create some gorgeously vibrant and lovely backgrouds with watercolor paints. These backgrounds can be used in a wide variety of projects too! One of the simplest is using ink over top and stencilling on some designs, like this great tutorial that uses a simple flower stencil. If you don't have a stencil don't be scared to free hand some of your favorite doodles, quotes, drawings, etc...

sailboat watercolour painting

Watercolor Wax Resist Painting Tutorial

Try this super cool watercolor technique using wax to create negative-space designs. You'll first use a waxed based product (a simple white crayon works well) to draw on your design, then you'll use your watercolor paints overtop that'll, like magic, reveal your drawing! This is a fun project to do with kids as you can teach them that the wax in the crayons resists the watercolors.

sailboat watercolour painting

How to Paint Watercolors on Rocks with 3 Easy Ideas

Who says you need to use canvas or watercolor paper to pain on? Just go outside for a walk and find yourself a nice rock to paint! It's inexpensive, simple and fun. They make great keepsakes, gifts and you can also hide them around your neighbourhood, a part of the kindness rock project.

sailboat watercolour painting

Easy Abstract Watercolor Painting Ideas

Experiment and get loose with watercolors by creating some fun, easy and colorful abstract art. Geometrical shapes are a great idea for abstract pieces. Check out the full step by step tutorial by Emy to find out how to recreate these vibrant paintings.

sailboat watercolour painting

Abstract Watercolor - Easy Watercolor Abstract Painting Techniques

Here's another beautiful watercolor abstract painting idea. This one uses different shapes, patterns, markings and strategic use of white space that gives this painting a professional look. It would look great framed and hung up on your walls too!

sailboat watercolour painting

Watercolor Starry Sky Painting Tutorial

Learn how to paint the night sky with watercolors in this YouTube tutorial. Complete this night sky painting with some silhouetted trees and some faint sparkling stars.

sailboat watercolour painting

How to Paint a Watercolor Sunset for Beginners

This is an easy project for anyone just starting out with watercolors. Use basic pink, orange and yellow to create the beautiful blended look of the sunset in the background. Then paint some simple silhouetted palm trees with black paint for a tropical vibe.

sailboat watercolour painting

Easy How To Paint Watercolor Beach Step By Step

Learn how to paint a gorgeous ocean scene with a tide of water crashing on the shore revealing a couple of sand dollars on the sand. The art sherpa will show you how to paint this beach painting.

sailboat watercolour painting

How To Paint A Sunset On A Lake With Boat

Paint this serene sunset scene to calm the nerves. Learn what colors you need for a multicoloured sunset along with the strokes needed to create the trees. Finish this zen painting off with a sailboat in the distance.

sailboat watercolour painting

The Easiest Watercolour Flowers for Beginners

Practice some florals with the help of this great tutorial. You'll learn how to paint roses, violets, peonies, daisies, lavender, tulips which you can use in any painting project. Frolic over to the tutorial for some floral frenzy!

sailboat watercolour painting

How To Paint Clouds in Watercolor for Beginners

This tutorial by Emily Olson Art is a must for anyone who wants to paint landscapes. Learning to paint clouds is an important subject matter to learn because they're often found in many painting scenes like blue skies, sunset skies, cloudy night scenes, or even an entire painting made out of fluffy soft clouds. The beauty of this tutorial also is that you'll only need 1 color to make a variety of cloud shapes, so no color mixing skills are needed here!

sailboat watercolour painting

Easy Watercolour Sunflowers For Beginners

Sunflowers are a popular flower that beginners often want to learn how to paint. They have a very interesting shape, with bright and cheerful yellow petals that surreound a textured and round disk centr.e. In this video tutorial by Emma Jane you'll learn how to recreate this beautiful bloom along with sunflower stems and leaves that forms a lovely bouquet.

sailboat watercolour painting

Lovely and Easy Watercolor Flowers

Feeling floral? Learn how to paint some watercolor flowers with some pale pastel tones and an arrangement of petal shapes. Paint a rose, peony, dahlia, anemone, and a variety of foliages. Head on over to the tutorial by Artists Network to master all these flowers.

sailboat watercolour painting

How to Paint Easy Watercolor Flowers For Beginners

These super simple flowers by Burlap and Blue don't require you to paint perfect petals or flower shapes. Simply lay some paint on your paper in a blob and then use your brush to form a rough flower shape. Once paint is dry then you can use a basic Sharpie marker to draw on the stems and leaf shapes.

sailboat watercolour painting

How to Paint Watercolor Lilacs Tutorial

Lilacs are another great flower to learn how to paint with watercolors. Learn all the details needed to paint these pale and muted colored flowers globules, with a small round detailing brush. Head on over to the video tutorial and Karina will show you how!

sailboat watercolour painting

Easy Watercolor Flowers Video Tutorial

Looking to paint an aesthetic flower bouquet? Recreate this gorgeously fresh and vibrant flower arrangement. with watercolors. Smitha will show you how to paint the floral shapes and the lovely leaves that complete this frame worthy piece.

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Paint Simple Watercolor Poppies

Poppies can be a simple flower to paint. Their petals are large and they have a distinctive black centre that's easy to recreate. In this lovely tutorial Varsha will show you how to paint forward facing poppies, side view poppies and poppy buds. Paint a poppy field or just a bunch! It's up to you how you want to paint these beaut's.

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3 Easy Ways to Paint Watercolor Flowers

This beginner friendly tutorial by Karen and Meg will show you how to paint some basic flower shapes like a lilac, bluebell and a poppy. Fill up the rest of the painting with green leaves, flower stems and foliage. Head on over to the step by step tutorial to learn how!

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Realistic Looking Watercolor Flowers 5 Ways

Have you practiced painting basic flower shapes, but now ready to tackle some more realistic looking florals? These fantastic tutorials by Anna will show you how to realistically paint 5 different flowers: a sunflower, rose, bluebell, african daisy and hydrangea. Grab your paints and brush and head on over to the tutorials.

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Whimsical Watercolor Flowers With Easy Color Mixing Trick

This wonderful tutorial by Emy will guide you through making these whimsical and simple flower shapes. Emy will also show you her color mixing techniques for creating a muted color palette. Color mixing is an important painting skill for beginners to start practicing, so be sure to check out this tutorial.

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How To Paint Watercolor Flowers With Tips

In this fabulous flower-powered watercolor tutorial Anna will show you how to paint flowers in different orientations: front and side views. She'll also share some tips on shading with watercolor, explain the property of dried watercolor paint versus wet paint, and provide closeup and clear pictures of each step. Check it out!

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5 Easy Watercolor Landscape Painting Ideas

Practice your watercolor landscape skills with these 5 in-depth step by step tutorials by Emy. After completing the tutorial you'll have experienced painting an ocean, grassy fields, mountains, desert and a tree forest. Paint them all on one large watercolor sheet or make individual paintings for a landscape montage.

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Proactive Creative – Guides for Visual Artists

Watercolor Sketchbooks: Best Choices for Modern Artists

Travel watercolor sketchbook - Outmane

The watercolor notebook has long been the traditional medium for painters passionate about travel and watercolor painting.

A watercolor journal or sketchbook is an excellent tool, especially for beginners. It’s easier to get started and experiment with new techniques. 

To paint in a watercolor notebook, you don’t have to be a professional artist.

Read on to discover the best-mixed media sketchbooks. If you’re looking for the best sketchbooks for drawing or painting, you’re sure to find the right one for your needs.

Buying Guide to the Best Sketchbook

There are a few factors to keep in mind if you want a great sketchbook. Here’s what I look out for when buying good watercolor paper or a new sketchbook! 

Paper Surface & Texture

The feel of the paper is a significant factor to consider. Watercolor paper can vary from smooth to rough. It can feel very granulated and bumpy, or it can be almost shiny and slippery.

Watercolor paper comes in two main types – students’ or artists’ quality. Top-quality artists’ paper will be acid-free and last a long time without your paint fading.

But it’s also more expensive and might not be necessary for your sketchbook.

Paper Weight

Another critical factor is the weight of the paper. Thicker paper will absorb more water without it seeping through to the other pages. 

In a sketchbook, that’s an important thing to think about! You don’t want your other designs to get blurred or destroyed. 

But very heavy paper can be unwieldy and make your sketchbook weighty. You’ll also get fewer pages in your sketchbook overall. 

Light paper is more likely to ripple or tear if you use a lot of water. That doesn’t mean that light paper is of low quality. 

You can get high-quality thinner paper – but you’ll need to use more care with it!

How it Performs With Watercolor Paints

That brings up to how the paper will perform in use. Here are a few questions you’ll need answers to if you want to buy the best sketchbook:

  • Does the paper absorb a lot of water? 
  • Does the page ripple or buckle?
  • Can you erase on it? 
  • Is it better suited to watercolor paints, pencils, or markers?

Sketchbook Construction

As well as the paper quality, it’s a good idea to look at the construction of the sketchbook itself. Does it feel hardwearing? Are the pages sewn in, and do they lay flat? 

Sketchbooks can vary greatly. Some will be cheaper with cardboard covers while others are hardbound and premium. 

Spiral notebooks lay flat, giving you easy access to the page. But not everyone likes this design.

If you want to treasure your sketchbook for years, splash out on a more expensive journal. It’s the perfect way to preserve your artwork for years to come.

You can get sketchbooks with perforated pages so you can remove individual sheets. If you’d like to have the option of displaying your artwork , make sure to look out for this feature.

Don’t forget to double-check how many pages the sketchbook contains! This will also give you a good idea of the value for money of each option.

The Best Watercolor Sketchbooks

If you’re looking for the best sketchbooks or the best watercolor paper, read on. I’ve reviewed only the top products here so that you can be sure of their quality and suitability.

Are you looking for a low-cost sketchbook or a Moleskine watercolor notebook alternative? Whatever you need, you should find the right product below!

As an artist myself, I know how important it is to have the right materials. Here, you’ll find the best watercolor paper and journals for beginners and pros.

Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad

Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad

(Image credit: Canson)

This spiral notebook contains heavyweight paper that is ideal for watercolor painting. As a mixed media sketchbook, you can also use it to draw, sketch, and even collage.

This versatility opens up more options, allowing you to try out different techniques. You can experiment and push your limits with this quality notepad.

The pad is a generous size at 14 x 17 inches. And with 60 sheets, there’s enough paper to keep you going for a long while.

You’ll also be pleased to hear that the paper is acid-free. That means that the paper will last a long time without fading or breaking. 

The smooth, fine texture allows for an easy, flawless blending of colors and adding layers. It’s even possible to erase on this notebook.

  • Versatile mixed-media sketchbook with thick, heavy paper
  • Lots of sheets of acid-free, long-lasting paper
  • The pages can tear out by accident as they are perforated

Check price on

Arteza Sketchbook

Arteza Watercolor Sketchbooks

(Image credit: Arteza)

Arteza is a well-known brand name among amateur and professional artists. This Arteza sketchbook would be a gorgeous addition to your materials.

Each sketchbook contains 34 sheets of cold press 110 lb. It feels silky yet weighty in hand and is designed for watercolors.

The attractive hardcover will protect your artwork and looks excellent. It’s ideal for traveling, as it’s durable and sturdy. 

This is a beautiful notebook crafted from natural linen in a cool gray shade. The elastic band holds it in place when not in use. The handy ribbon bookmark helps you find the right page with ease.

Little touches like this set this product apart from the competitors.

It’s also a practical size, and the paper is acid-free, as you’d expect. The pages lay flat when painting, so you can work comfortably.

Arteza is so confident in the quality of its products that it offers a 100% guarantee. You can send it back for a free replacement if it doesn’t meet your expectations.

You can’t beat this excellent customer service. The quality guarantee is all you need to assure you that an Arteza sketchbook is worth investing in.

  • Fantastic, high-quality design with extra touches
  • Cold-press, acid-free paper
  • The paper does tend to buckle if you use a lot of water

Pentalic Art Journal Aqua Watercolor

Pentalic Art Journal Aqua Watercolor

(Image credit: Pentalic)

Here is another gorgeous watercolor journal that is a joy to use. It looks stylish and is perfect for landscapes and other paintings.

This Pentalic sketchbook contains thick, quality watercolor paper. It is 100% cotton, 140lb paper that has a neutral PH. The cold press paper is milled in the Netherlands to the highest standards.

All these factors combine to make it ideal for watercolor paints. It’s thick and sturdy enough that the pages shouldn’t warp, buckle, or bleed onto the next page.

This journal is designed to lay completely flat, making it easier to use. The ribbon marker makes it quick to find your place and even has a handy storage pocket.

This set also contains a set of watercolor paints and a brush. So, you have everything you need to get started, making it perfect for any beginner.

But it’s also suitable for experienced artists. It’s a great size for taking on your travels, and the elastic band will keep all your artwork safe.

  • Beautiful, thick paper that won’t buckle or fail you
  • It’s a good size and comes with extra features like a storage pocket
  • The first page of the journal is a little loose

Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block

Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block

(Image credit: Paul Rubens)

This watercolor paper block is an excellent gift for any artist, including yourself. It’s suitable for everyone, no matter how much experience you have. And it’s a delight to use.

The classic black leather design makes this watercolor journal stylish and timeless. It has a hardback cover, which ensures that it should last for a long time.

The paper doesn’t disappoint, either. Hot pressed and 100% cotton, it’s incredibly smooth. That makes it the best sketchbook for markers by a long way. 

Grab this paper block if you like to dabble in watercolors and other media. Your sketches will look just as good as your watercolors and line drawings with markers.

The fact that the paper is acid-free guarantees that your designs won’t fade. 

It differs from a notebook or journal in that the paper is glued down on all four sides. The benefit of this is that it’s super easy to use on the road.

But it does mean that you can’t flick through and work on several pages in one session. You’ll need to remove the top sheet to move onto the next one.

Altogether, it’s a fantastic product for artists. The handy size allows you to express your creativity while remaining portable. So, you can draw and paint both at home and on the go.

  • A paint block that has premium quality, smooth paper
  • Easy to use at home and when traveling
  • You’ll need to store your finished pieces somewhere to keep them safe – this is not a journal

Stillman & Birn Beta Series

Stillman & Birn Beta Series

(Image credit: Stillman & Birn)

Stillman & Birn is another respected brand that creates high-quality art materials. This premium sketchbook ticks all the right boxes and is affordable, too! 

At 270 gsm, the paper is extra-heavyweight. That means it’s designed to suit all sorts of media, from watercolor to markers and pencil sketches. 

You can even use gouache paints, and it can withstand many layers of paint.

The paper is thick enough to prevent any bleeding to the next page. But you can also erase on it without the paper tearing. That makes it the best paper for watercolor markers, too! 

The binding is sewn in the US, ensuring top-quality construction. This sketchbook is an excellent alternative to a Moleskine sketchbook.

  • High-quality paper and construction
  • The paper is both acid and chloride-free
  • It’s quite small

Travelogue Artist Watercolor Journal

Travelogue Artist Watercolor Journal

(Image credit: Unbekannt)

This travel-sized watercolor journal is perfect for anyone who likes to paint on the go. You should snap up this great journal if you travel frequently and want to document your trips.

At 5.3 x 8.3 inches, it’s compact and portable. So, you can pack it into your handbag, backpack, or suitcase with ease.

The paper is also high-quality and designed for avid artists. It’s cold-pressed and acid-free to prevent your designs from fading. And with a generous 60 pages, you can create as many masterpieces as you like. 

Plus, this journal looks beautiful with its natural linen cover. You’ll want to take this sketchbook everywhere with you!

  • A fantastic travel-size sketchbook
  • Gorgeous handbound linen cover and elastic closure to keep your sheets safe
  • The paper isn’t as thick as some other sketchbooks

Below are sketches from my travel sketchbook.

sailboat watercolour painting

(Image credit: Outmane Amahou)

The Wrap Up

A sketchbook is a worthy addition to your art tools and materials. It allows you to experiment and give free rein to your imagination.

It’s also an excellent way to see how you’re progressing as an artist. You can look back over the pages and preserve memories within.

The best artist sketchbooks for watercolor have high-quality paper and durable construction. You want a book that will last and hold all your paintings safe.

Grab any of the fantastic sketchbooks reviewed above. You won’t regret it! There’s something for everyone and every budget.

Then, sign up for the Proactive Creative newsletter! I’ll keep you up to date with all the best tips, articles, and reviews so that you can stay on top of your game.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Proactive Creative may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

sailboat watercolour painting

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.

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2 thoughts on “Watercolor Sketchbooks: Best Choices for Modern Artists”

Thank you for this information, it is going to be useful in my research as a beginner in calligraphy and watercolor painting.

You’re welcome 🙂

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  18. Best Watercolor Sketchbook for Artists

    Arteza Sketchbook. (Image credit: Arteza) Arteza is a well-known brand name among amateur and professional artists. This Arteza sketchbook would be a gorgeous addition to your materials. Each sketchbook contains 34 sheets of cold press 110 lb. It feels silky yet weighty in hand and is designed for watercolors.

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