In this post I’ll show you how you can learn watercolor basics in 7 days like I did! Watercolor painting has been incredibly therapeutic for me. I have completely fallen in love with this medium in one week’s time… let me show you how you can, too!
With a sudden change in our schedule caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, I have decided I want to really try and make the best of our time while “social distancing”. I love having my kids home with me, and I am thankful we finally get a chance to slow down. 3 weeks ago I could’ve never imagined having even 20 extra minutes a day to sit down and learn a new hobby. What a gift to have a chance to catch our breath and discover passions we didn’t know we had!
I purchased an inexpensive set of watercolors a few weeks ago to give my 7-year-old daughter. She invited me to sit and paint with her one afternoon, and it was then and there that a new passion was born! Something about sitting and concentrating on color mixing, blending them together and watching them bleed into each other on the page is so incredibly relaxing. It feels like meditation and mental relief.
Let me be clear, when I say I have discovered a new hobby and passion, I in no way, shape, or form mean to sound like I know how to paint watercolor like a pro. I started with simply doodling and put ZERO pressure on myself to do anything perfectly. Because of that, I was able to experiment and learn a few things just through trial and error!
I would love to show you a few sources for amazing teachers if you are interested in learning the basics from some incredibly talented artists!
Great sources for beginning watercolor lessons: Here is where i started!
- MY VERY FAVORITE TEACHER FOR BEGINNING LESSONS is Shayda Campbell- Loose watercolor flowers for beginners on YouTube (this tutorial was so fun and I love this talented instructor!)
- I found the cutest workbooks from Emily Lex Studio (my daughter and I love them!) We are painting the FLOWERS watercolor workbook right now. It’s basic and so fun.
- Lucy, @craftberrybush on instragram is who first inspired me to even start with watercolor. She has generously posted free beginning watercolor lessons on her REELS on Instagram. You’ll love these lessons!
Tips that helped me learn as I practiced:
- Less is more. When I first started, I was painting on full-sized pages! This can feel overwhelming as we pressure ourselves to cover all the white space. I chose to switch to THESE PADS and have loved them! They’re smaller and when I sit down for my 20 minutes sessions I am able to complete a painting each time. I think it’s also important to note that sometimes simplicity wins!
- Dragging color. I don’t know the technical term for when you drag color with your brush into one area on the page, but I have absolutely loved watching as the paint dries on the pages and the little puddles of watercolor turn into a textured pedal in my art. Learning where to place darker colors and puddle stronger pigment comes with practice. I was surprised how quickly that started to come to me after just a few days!
- Get the right paper. Do not use computer paper for painting! The water will soak right through and you will have nothing but a mess. Quality watercolor paper is so important!
- Start a Pinterest folder labeled “watercolor doodles” and pin basic watercolor images that inspire you! You can start by imitating these and then add in your own creativity. This has helped me learn the basic shapes of flowers. Want to join my folder? CLICK HERE!
- Be consistent. There is always an excuse not to do something! Give yourself a goal of painting for 20 minutes a day (that’s about all I can get in because my kiddos need me) and you will really start to look forward to it!
- Involve your kids. This week we all wanted to paint, so I created “color charts” for my kids to work on while I painted my florals. My kids, 10, 7, and 3 all LOVED this activity! It teaches them how to blend colors and create a rainbow color chart. We simply used scotch tape and created little squares on a watercolor page.
What paint and pad set are you using?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I’ve been getting lately. I am going to link a set that is just like mine (but slightly better because it has a lot more colors!) Even with basic colors you can mix and create so many new colors! This is the same paper I’m using and love, and the only brush I’ve used to do all of my paintings so far!
Combo packs and other budget-friendly options:
What can I do with my finished paintings?
- Frame them and show them off in your home!
- Write a letter on the back of one of your paintings, and mail it to someone you love. They will be overjoyed to receive something so unique and special from you.
- Cut out tags and paint mini watercolor paintings on them. Then attach the tags to homemade goodies to share with a friend. So beautiful! Need goody ideas? I have a TON of yummy recipes! CLICK HERE for all my favorite dessert. Or HERE for my best bread recipes!
- Create a keepsake book so that you can see how far you’ve come in your learning! This has been so fun for me, even in just a week’s time.
- Pick up a clipboard from the dollar store to keep in your kitchen. Pin your weekly art to be displayed on a shelf or counter where you will see it each day.
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