How to Watercolor Paint: A Beginner-to-Expert Guide

Watercolor painting is one of the most popular art forms because it's fun, it’s affordable, and its techniques are accessible to beginners and experienced artists alike. 

If you’ve never used this medium, however, you may be wondering how to paint watercolor and where to find basic watercolor painting tips and ideas. We’ve compiled a guide to help you learn how to watercolor paint, along with some pro artist tips and watercolor ideas!

5 Steps to Watercolor Painting

Though it’s tempting to dig right in, there’s some prep work to complete before you begin watercolor painting. These steps will ensure that your journey of learning how to watercolor paint is smooth and successful!

Step 1: What You’ll Need to Start Watercoloring

One of the best things about learning how to use watercolor paint is that you don’t need many materials. In addition to plain water, you’ll need the following: 

• Watercolor Paints

There are enumerable styles and brands of watercolor paints, and you can purchase them both in sets and as individual paint pots. To keep things simple for beginners, choose a comprehensive set. You can move on to building your own palette as your skills improve. 

Choose your watercolor paints wisely! Discover the right brands that work for you in this tutorial.

• Watercolor Brushes

Watercolor brushes are unique in that each brush creates a different effect. If you’re a beginner and still learning how to paint with watercolor, you won’t need an extensive set—the basics will do—but you may choose to expand your collection as you continue your creative work in watercolor. 

• Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paint is, well, wet, so you need a specific type of paper to protect your work. When you’re just starting out, opt for basic watercolor painting paper. As you develop your watercolor technique, you may consider paper stretching to help your paint more cohesively adapt to the painting surface. 

• Board and Tape (Optional)

Many artists like taping their watercolor paper to a board or other hard surfaces to keep it in place as they work. Your board doesn’t need to be anything special, just a flat surface, and you can use professional painters tape or masking tape to affix the edges of your watercolor paper to the board. 

Step 2: Set Up Your Watercolor Painting Workspace

Now that you have your watercolor painting materials on hand, you can set up your creative workspace! Find a space that can accommodate your materials and allows you to place your water someplace where it won’t accidentally be spilled on your work. 

If you don’t use a board, you may also consider putting newspaper or paper towels under your work area to protect any underlying surfaces. 

Step 3: Create Color References

One of the best ways to develop your color theory and mixing skills as well as your brush technique is to create color swatches (or even a color chart or wheel). You can lean on your chart when you are considering watercolor ideas or planning new projects. 

To set up a basic watercolor painting color chart, begin with water, a piece of watercolor paper, and your watercolor palette. On the left side of the paper, moving vertically, list the names of each color in your palette. Duplicate your list across the bottom of your paper, moving horizontally from left to right. Then, use your watercolor paints and brushes to fill in the “grid” by matching up the colors and mixing them together according to your labels. 

Step 4: Warm Up and Practice

The next step in starting watercolor painting is to try warm-up methods and exercises to develop your painting skills. Practice exercises can include anything from sketching for your watercolor paintings to color mixing work or new brush techniques. 

There is no right or wrong answer for how to paint with watercolor when you’re just warming up. As long as what you’re doing is helping you to feel creative and connected to the process, you’re right on track. 

Step 5: Choose a Watercolor Project

Now for the real fun—it’s time to choose a watercolor painting project! Even if you’re still wading through the waters of watercolor for beginners, choose a project that’s in alignment with your interests or how you identify as a watercolor artist, which will only support your creative growth! Maybe you have a strength that you want to highlight or an area of opportunity that you can work on developing through your project. 

Pay special attention to classes and projects that are offered for all skill levels and that include guided instructions for how to use watercolor paint to help accelerate your skills. 

Watercolor Tips

Watercolor painting is heralded for being one of the most enjoyable types of art, but it can also be challenging. If you need some tips to tuck into your watercolor painting toolbox, look no further!

1. Dedicate Time for Watercolor Painting

First, ensure that you plan time to spend honing your craft. Whether you work creative time into your personal schedule or sign up classes to keep yourself accountable, practicing regularly will help you truly progress.

2. Measure Progress Regularly

In addition to making time to create your watercolor art, spend time assessing your completed work. Identify your own personal earmarks for success—mastering a new brush technique or creating more realistic paintings, for example—and review your work on a regular basis to help meet your goals. 

3. Be Patient

Skillshare instructor and watercolor artist Anne Butera cites patience as the most important skill for any artist to have! Her advice is to be kind to yourself, especially while you are learning, and give yourself time and space to grow and improve in your art. 

Basic Watercolor Ideas for Beginners

1. Watercolor Sweets and Treats

In this fun watercolor for beginners class, taught by Skillshare instructor and watercolor artist Yasmina Creates, you’ll learn how to draw and paint adorable donuts, cookies, and more! 

2. Beautiful Autumn Trees

For something more outdoorsy, try painting autumn trees with Skillshare instructor Zaneena Nabeel. You’ll learn how to paint watercolor trees, step-by-step, and will end up with a beautiful homage to fall!

3. Paint Your Dream Travel Destination

If the monotony of day-to-day life has sucked your ideas well dry, daydream with Skillshare instructor Caitlin Sheffer and paint your dream travel destination with watercolors. Whether you’ve actually been to the destination doesn’t matter, as Caitlin will teach you how to use reference photos, and you’ll end up with a beautiful painting you can “escape” to. 

4. Paint Your Favorite Animals

Animals, especially those with fur, make great subjects when it comes to watercolor projects for beginners. Skillshare instructor Olga Bonitas teaches a wonderful step-by-step class on how to watercolor paint fluffy foxes. 

5. Go Abstract

If you’re not quite up for realistic watercolor paintings just yet, try working in the abstract space or even combining realism and abstract properties like Skillshare instructor Melissa Lee does with these watercolor portraits. 

Interested in the Latest Watercolor Techniques?

Modern Watercolor Techniques: Explore Skills to Create On-Trend Paintings.

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