8 ideas to get you started in watercolors

Start painting with simple, relaxing and colorful projects

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Watercolor is one of the most versatile and accessible techniques to get you started in illustration. Here are 8 easy ideas to get you started in watercolor, lose your fear of the brush and discover everything you can express with this technique.

1. Simple flowers

Draw basic flowers like daisies, tulips or lavender. They are perfect for practicing soft shapes, color mixtures and loose brushstrokes. They are also very decorative and always nice to paint.

2. Fruits and vegetables.

Start with simple pieces such as lemons, strawberries or carrots. Their organic shapes and vivid colors will help you practice gradients, light and shadow.

3. Skies at sunset.

Color transitions in the sky are ideal for learning to blur and control water. Add silhouettes of mountains or trees to create a simple but striking composition.

4. Marine elements

Shells, starfish or bottles with messages. These types of illustrations allow you to explore textures, transparencies and work with blue and greenish tones.

5. Minimalist houses and landscapes.

Draw small houses in the middle of nature or rural landscapes. Use few elements and focus on shapes, soft contours and a limited color palette.

6. Mugs, books and everyday objects.

Choose items from your everyday life and turn them into small works. This exercise helps you to observe details and find beauty in the simple.

7. Adorable animals

Paint simple animals like birds, cats or fish. You can use a clear base and add details with ink or pencil to define shapes without complication.

8. Decorative patterns

Create repetitive patterns with leaves, dots, waves or geometric shapes. This is an ideal way to let your hand loose and play with repetition and visual rhythm.

Do you want to learn more? [b]Do you want to learn more?

Discover step-by-step techniques and practical classes with these recommended resources:

Watercolor painting courses on Domestika
Watercolor tutorial: basic botanical illustration techniques