Watercolor painting is a relaxing and rewarding art form that’s accessible to beginners and experienced artists alike. In this guide, we’ll cover essential watercolor painting tips, techniques, and answers to the most common questions beginners ask.
🎨 July is World Watercolor Month, which makes it the perfect time to pick up your brush and start painting. Keep reading for inspiration and supplies – and don’t miss our section with the 2025 daily prompts!
What Are Good Questions to Ask About Watercolor Painting?
If you’re new to watercolor, these beginner-friendly questions will help you start with confidence:
Is watercolor beginner-friendly?
Yes! Watercolor is a great medium for beginners. It’s portable, relatively inexpensive to start, and encourages experimentation. Once you learn a few basic techniques, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can create beautiful results.Should I draw before I paint?
In most cases, yes. A light pencil sketch helps plan your layout and guides your brushwork. Just keep the lines soft so they don’t show through the paint, and avoid using erasers too much, as they can damage the paper surface.How much water should I use?
It depends on the effect you want. More water will give you light, flowing washes and soft blends. Less water gives you bolder color and more control. Practice both to learn how they affect your painting.Can watercolor be erased?
Not entirely. Once pigment soaks into the paper, it’s hard to remove completely. However, you can “lift” some color while the paint is still wet using a damp brush, sponge, or paper towel. It’s always a good idea to plan ahead – but don’t worry about small mistakes; they’re part of the charm!
What Is the Golden Rule of Watercolor Painting?
Paint from light to dark.
Since watercolor is transparent, it’s hard to lighten areas once they’re dark. Start with your lightest washes and gradually layer darker tones. This approach builds depth and keeps your painting looking fresh and luminous.
What Are Three Common Mistakes People Make with Watercolor?
Overworking the paper
Scrubbing or layering too much can damage the paper and make colors look muddy.Skipping proper paper
Using non-watercolor paper causes buckling and uneven absorption. Always choose watercolor-specific paper, 140 lb or heavier.Using too much pigment too soon
Heavily loaded brushes make it hard to control blending. Build your color intensity in layers.
What Is Normally Painted First in a Watercolor?
Start with the background and lightest colors. For example, if you’re painting a landscape, begin with the sky before moving to trees or details. This lets your lighter areas shine through and helps define your composition early.
What Is the Main Technique Used in Watercolor Painting?
The most common watercolor technique is wet-on-wet, applying wet paint to wet paper. This method allows colors to flow and blend into each other naturally, creating soft, dreamy effects that give watercolor its signature look. It’s perfect for skies, backgrounds, and anything with gentle transitions.
Other key watercolor techniques:
Wet-on-dry
This involves applying wet paint onto dry paper. It gives you more control and sharper edges, which is ideal for details, lines, and defined shapes.Dry brush
With very little water on your brush, this technique creates rough, textured marks. Use it to suggest grass, fur, wood grain, or other textured surfaces.Lifting
While the paint is still damp (or sometimes after it dries), you can use a damp brush, paper towel, or sponge to lift pigment off the paper. This technique helps create highlights or soft corrections.
🎨 Tip: Most paintings use a mix of techniques. Try layering wet-on-wet backgrounds with wet-on-dry details and add texture with dry brush strokes. The more you experiment, the more confident you’ll feel.
What Is the Easiest Thing to Paint in Watercolor?
Simple subjects are best when you’re starting out. Try:
Loose florals
Cloudy skies
Fruits (like lemons or cherries)
Abstract washes
These allow room for play without requiring fine detail or perspective.
What Supplies Do I Need for Watercolor Painting?
You only need a few basics:
Watercolor paints (in pans or tubes)
Watercolor paper (140 lb / 300 gsm or higher)
Round brushes in a few sizes (4, 6, 10)
Water cups
Mixing palette
Paper towel or rag
🛒 You can find all of these at our Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop stores in Bonney Lake and Monroe, WA. Our team can help you choose the right supplies to match your skill level and goals.
SUPPLIES SHOWN BELOW WILL VARY FROM STORE TO STORE. Call before coming in to confirm availability.
Available at our Monroe Location. While supplies last.
Available at our Bonney Lake Location. While supplies last.
Available at our Monroe Location. While supplies last.
Available at our Bonney Lake Location. While supplies last.
How to Get Started with Watercolor Painting
Want to try watercolor but don’t know where to begin?
Join one of our watercolor painting classes! Both our Bonney Lake and Monroe stores offer hands-on workshops for all skill levels. It’s a fun way to learn techniques, ask questions, and meet others who love to paint.
👉 View the Bonney Lake class calendar
👉 View the Monroe class calendar
Images shown below are examples of classes offered at our stores in the past.
Where to Find Beginner Tutorials Online
You can also watch beginner tutorials on YouTube to learn about color mixing, brush techniques, and easy subjects to start with at home.
🔍 Tip: To find tutorials, go to Google and type in phrases like:
watercolor painting for beginners
easy watercolor tutorials step by step
how to paint with watercolor basic techniques
You’ll find blog posts, videos, and even free printable guides to help you get started.
World Watercolor Month 2025 Prompts
Every July, artists around the world join the World Watercolor Month challenge. It’s a creative way to stay inspired with one prompt a day for 31 days. For more details, visit the World Watercolor Month official website here.
🖌️ Here is the 2025 prompt list!
We’ll also have printed copies available in-store.
Final Thoughts
Watercolor is a beautiful, expressive medium – perfect for quiet moments of creativity or capturing the world around you. With a few supplies and some practice, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
Stop by Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop in Bonney Lake or Monroe, WA to pick up your supplies, sign up for a watercolor class, or just get inspired. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
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Come shop local with us!
Our Ben Franklin Crafts and Frame Shop stores in Bonney Lake and Monroe, WA, are packed with top-quality supplies, and our friendly team is always ready to help you find just what you need. Have a question? Stop by – we’re happy to help!
