Do you ever feel overwhelmed when thinking about getting back into painting? Sometimes it feels like there just isn’t enough time, and painting might take hours! If that sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In this tutorial, we’ll embrace the challenge of painting quickly and loosely, helping you rediscover the joy of creating without getting caught up in the details. By the end of this, you’ll have a beautiful watercolor landscape to show for it, even if you only have 15-20 minutes!
Why Painting Quickly is a Great Creative Exercise
When we have limited time to paint, we often work more loosely and freely. This practice helps you focus on capturing the essence of the scene without obsessing over perfection. Setting a timer to paint within a specific time frame forces you to simplify, which often leads to more expressive and lively results. Plus, it’s a great way to get back into painting, especially after a break.
Tip: If you’re struggling with loosening up your style or feel stuck in rigid details, this exercise is perfect for you!
Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace & Choose a Limited Palette
Before you begin, gather your supplies and reference image. For this painting, I used White Nights watercolor paints and a few key colors:
- Naples Yellow
- Ultramarine Blue
- Cobalt Blue
- Indigo
- May Green
I recommend using a limited palette—it helps create harmony throughout your painting and keeps things cohesive. You don’t need a lot of colors; the goal is to mix and adjust as you go. This will allow you to maintain balance while working quickly.
Step 2: Start with a Quick Wet-Into-Wet Wash
Grab a large flat brush to help you paint faster. The larger the brush, the quicker the wash! Begin by laying down a wash of water over the paper. Make sure it’s evenly applied, without pools of water. This wet base will allow you to work wet-into-wet, creating soft transitions and natural blending as you go.
Next, add your first layer of color. I started with Naples Yellow for a glowing center and mixed it into the Cobalt Blue for a soft sky. Don’t worry about creating perfect gradients—just focus on moving quickly and enjoying the flow of paint.
Step 3: Create Soft Mountain Ranges
For the mountains in the background, I mixed Cobalt Blue and Ultramarine, keeping the application light and diffuse to make the mountains appear far away. Use a wet-into-wet technique here as well to create smooth, dreamy transitions between the peaks.
As you work forward in the landscape, gradually increase the pigment to add depth. Mix a little Naples Yellow with your blues to create muted greens for the lower sections of the mountains. The key is to apply color quickly and let the water do the blending!
Step 4: Add Loose Trees and Texture
Now, it's time to add some trees and texture to the foreground. Use Indigo mixed with Naples Yellow and May Green to create darker greens for the trees. Instead of carefully painting every tree, just dab the paint loosely, allowing the watercolor to suggest the shapes. Focus on building variety in color and texture to avoid a flat appearance.
To make your trees feel more grounded, add shadows and layers of darker color. Don’t be afraid to keep things loose—this is what gives the painting its charm and spontaneity.
Step 5: Final Touches & Sprinkles of Fun
Once you’ve laid down the main elements of your landscape, take a step back. You can sprinkle some clean water over the painting to create texture or add tiny highlights with a clean brush to lift some pigment. These final touches add personality and playfulness to your piece.
Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s about enjoying the process of creating!
Why You Should Try This Quick Painting Challenge
This exercise is all about painting for the joy of it. Often, we get caught up in making a masterpiece, which can lead to frustration and creative block. By setting a timer and giving yourself permission to paint loosely, you can break free from that mindset.
Tip: Try turning your reference image into black and white. This makes it easier to focus on value contrasts, which are essential for creating depth in your painting.
Celebrate the Act of Painting
Even if your painting doesn’t turn out exactly how you imagined, be proud of yourself for showing up and putting brush to paper. Remember, there’s always room for improvement, but that doesn’t mean your work isn’t worth celebrating.
So next time you feel like you don’t have time to paint, grab your supplies, set a timer, and dive in. You’ll be amazed at what you can create in just 15-20 minutes!
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Final Thoughts
Loosening up and allowing yourself to paint quickly is one of the best ways to boost your creativity and find joy in the process. This landscape painting exercise is a great way to practice painting freely and confidently. I hope you enjoy trying it out!