Easy Tutorials

THE BASICS

If you want information about supplies as well as beginner watercolor exercises, check out my FREE course, “Watercolor Basics for the Absolute Beginner”. The course content is as follows:

Welcome (0:36)
What is watercolor? (0:42)
Advantages of using watercolor (0:55)
Supplies (14:35)
My workspace set up (0:56)
How to control water (1:35)
Basic techniques: wet on dry, wash, variegated wash (9:08)
Basic techniques: wet on wet, dry brush, layering (8:23)
Basic techniques project (4:44)
Additional techniques: salt, lifting, resist (12:46)
Final thoughts (1:14)

If you already have supplies on hand and are ready to dive in, you can still check out that free course above, or jump into the 6-part series below!

Starting with watercolor can be intimidating. In this first part of the Beginner Watercolor Exercises series, we’ll look at two techniques: wet-on-dry and layering/glazing.

In part 2, we’ll look at some more basic techniques such as blends, bleeds, and blooms.

In part 3, we’ll dive deeper into the wet-on-wet technique and observe how paper wetness changes our paint’s behavior.

Painting a wash is essential to understanding watercolor. This exercise is also great for getting to know your colors and how they blend together.

In part 5, we’ll look at some more techniques such as dry brush, lifting, and masking.

Finally, in part 6, we’ll look at additional, fun techniques such as splatters and textures as we play around with salt, rubbing alcohol, and plastic wrap.

ADDITIONAL BASICS

Aside from knowing how to paint with watercolors, it’s important to be aware of other foundational basics such as color theory.

A swatch grid is also a great way to know more about your paints. Learning how to mix and practicing painting with various values will only improve your handle of watercolor.