If you’re just starting out with watercolor painting, you might be wondering, What should I paint now? The answer often depends on who you ask, but a fantastic starting point is to practice basic watercolor techniques. By mastering the wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques, you’ll set yourself up for success. And what better way to practice than by painting simple landscapes?
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through creating three stunning yet beginner-friendly watercolor landscapes. Let’s get started!
Landscape 1: The Serene Sky
- Prepare the Paper:
- Apply clean water evenly over the paper until it’s fully covered.
- You’ll know you have the right amount of water when you see a light gloss. If there are pools of water along the edges, soak them up with tissue or a damp brush.
- Create the Sky:
- Mix a cool and warm blue to create a mid-tone and dilute it slightly with water.
- Apply the blue to the top of the paper and distribute it downwards to create a gradient wash. Keep the top darker and the bottom lighter.
- If there’s too much paint toward the bottom, rinse your brush, dab off excess water, and blend the remaining paint.
- Add Depth:
- Once dry, repeat the gradient wash to intensify the color.
- For light clouds, use a tissue to gently lift wet paint from the sky.
- Details:
- Add a yellow ochre field and enhance it with burnt sienna for texture.
- Paint a small hill in the distance and dab warm green for trees along the horizon.
- Use a white ink pen to add highlights and details, such as a windmill.
Landscape 2: Sunset Glow
- Base Layer:
- Wet the paper as in the first painting, then create a gradient wash with blue at the top, stopping halfway down.
- Add Sunset Colors:
- Mix two red tones to create a mid-tone and apply it to the lower part of the painting.
- Rinse your brush, remove excess water, and blend the red upwards into the blue.
- Add more red to the bottom to deepen the color.
- Intensify the Sunset:
- Apply another layer of blue and red. To warm the sunset, mix in a touch of orange at the upper part of the red layer and blend.
- Foreground Details:
- Paint a light purple mountain silhouette using diluted warm red and blue.
- Add depth by layering a darker purple for shadows and highlights.
- Lightly brush the same colors over the lower part to suggest a lake with light reflections.
- Final Touches:
- Add another mountain in front using a darker red-purple mix, leaving the previous mountain’s highlights intact.
- Enhance the water with darker tones, keeping some highlights.
- Use a white pen to draw the moon and add reflections in the water.
Landscape 3: Night Sky
- Base Layer:
- Wet the paper and apply blue paint from top to bottom for an even wash.
- Build the Night Sky:
- Create a deep, dark blue by mixing blue, green, and red. Play with ratios until you achieve the desired hue.
- Apply the dark blue starting at the top and blend it downward for a gradient.
- Use diagonal brush strokes for subtle texture and atmosphere.
- Foreground Details:
- Add a mountain at the bottom with the same dark blue, letting it merge into the sky.
- Stars:
- Dilute white gouache with water and use a bristle brush to sprinkle stars across the sky.
- Add larger stars or constellations for extra charm.
Why This Practice is Perfect for Beginners
These three landscapes allow you to experiment with gradients, layering, and color blending while practicing control over water and pigment. Plus, they’re fun and relaxing to create!
Set Yourself Up for Success
Painting these landscapes takes just about 30 minutes, making them a great way to unwind while honing your watercolor skills. Don’t forget to download my free watercolor supplies PDF guide here to get started on your watercolor journey.
Thank you for painting along with me. Have a wonderful day!