5 Easy Tips for Painting Beautiful Watercolor Landscapes

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Watercolors, with their fluidity and vibrant hues, have a unique charm that can turn any landscape into a work of art. However, creating an easy watercolor landscape that truly captures the essence of a scene requires more than just passion. It's about mastering the tools and techniques that bring your vision to life. Here are five easy tips to guide your journey in painting beautiful watercolor landscapes.

1. Pick the Right Brush

Just like a writer needs a reliable pen, a watercolor artist needs the right brush. The brush is your ally—it can make the difference between a good painting and a great one. Here's what you need to know to choose the right brush for your easy watercolor landscape.

Choose Natural Bristles

Natural bristle brushes are a favorite among watercolor artists for a reason. Their soft, absorbent fibers hold water well, allowing for smooth strokes that blend colors beautifully. For your easy watercolor landscape, consider brushes made from sable or squirrel hair. These types of brushes are known for their superior quality and durability.

Size Matters

When it comes to brushes, size indeed matters. Large brushes are great for covering vast areas with a wash of color, while small brushes allow for detailed work. For an easy watercolor landscape, you'll need a range of sizes. A good rule of thumb is to start with a larger brush and switch to smaller ones as you add detail to your painting.

Experiment with Brush Shapes

Did you know that brushes come in various shapes, each designed for a specific purpose? Round brushes are versatile, perfect for both broad strokes and fine lines. Flat brushes, on the other hand, are great for creating sharp edges and filling in large areas. For your easy watercolor landscape, don't shy away from trying different brush shapes — each brings a unique touch to your painting.

Remember, no one brush does it all. Choosing the right brush is about understanding what each type offers and how it can enhance your easy watercolor landscape. So, don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

2. Select Your Palette

Color is the soul of any landscape painting. The colors you choose can set the mood, evoke emotions, and bring your landscape to life. Here's how you can select the perfect palette for your easy watercolor landscape.

Opt for Quality Paints

When it comes to watercolor paints, quality truly matters. High-quality paints offer rich, vibrant colors that can take your easy watercolor landscape to the next level. Brands like Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith, and M. Graham are known for their excellent quality and wide range of colors.

Create a Color Chart

A color chart is a handy tool for any watercolor artist. It helps you see how colors behave when mixed together, which can be a game-changer when painting an easy watercolor landscape. To create a color chart, simply paint swatches of your colors on a sheet of watercolor paper and label them. You can then experiment with mixing colors to see the results. This way, you'll have a visual reference that can guide you in choosing the right colors for your painting.

Remember, selecting your palette isn't just about choosing colors—it's about understanding how these colors interact with each other and with the water. With the right palette, your easy watercolor landscape can come alive with depth and vibrancy.

3. Master Water Control

Water is the very essence of watercolor painting. It's what gives it its fluidity, transparency, and its unique charm. But it can also be a bit tricky to control. That's why mastering water control is a key step in painting an easy watercolor landscape.

Use Enough Water

Watercolor painting is all about balance, especially when it comes to water. Using too little can leave your paints looking dull and dry, while too much can wash out your colors and lead to a lack of control. The key is to find the right balance for your painting style and the specific landscape you're painting. So, don't be afraid to experiment and find the right level of water for your art.

Avoid Puddles

While water is crucial in watercolor painting, you don't want it to pool on your paper. Puddles can cause your colors to bleed into each other, resulting in a muddy mess. To avoid this, try to keep your brush damp, not soaking wet. If you do end up with puddles, simply lift them off with a dry brush or a piece of paper towel.

Learn Wet-on-Wet Technique

Wet-on-wet is a classic watercolor technique where wet paint is applied onto a wet surface. This allows the colors to flow into each other, creating soft edges and subtle transitions. It's perfect for painting elements of your easy watercolor landscape like skies, water, and distant mountains. It might take a bit of practice to master, but once you do, it can really elevate your watercolor landscapes.

By mastering water control, you can unlock the full potential of your watercolor paints and create stunning landscapes with ease. So, take your time, play with water, and let it guide you in your painting journey.

4. Adopt Effective Painting Techniques

Mastering the right techniques can make your watercolor landscape painting journey a lot easier. From layering to mastering glazes and gradients, having a good set of techniques up your sleeve can take your painting game to the next level. So, let's take a look at some of them.

Try Layering

Layering is a key technique in watercolor painting. It allows you to build up depth and detail without losing the transparency and lightness that makes watercolor so special. Start with lighter colors and gradually add darker layers on top. Remember, it's easier to add more paint than to take it away, so be patient and let each layer dry before adding the next. This way, you can create a rich, detailed, yet easy watercolor landscape.

Master Glazing

Glazing is a technique where a thin, transparent layer of paint is applied over a dry layer. This can add depth and luminosity to your painting, and can even alter the color and tone of the underlying paint. It's like adding a filter to your painting — it can subtly change the mood without disturbing the details underneath. A sunset sky, for instance, can be enhanced with a glaze of warm orange or pink.

Practice Gradient Washes

Gradient washes are a great way to create smooth transitions between colors — think of a clear blue sky fading into a soft, pale horizon. Start with a saturated color, and gradually add more water as you move down the paper, creating a smooth gradient. It's a simple, yet powerful technique to add a touch of magic to your easy watercolor landscape.

Remember, it's not just about the techniques, but how you use them to tell your story. So, don't be afraid to mix and match, experiment, and most importantly, have fun with them. After all, painting should be a joy, not a chore.

5. Learn to Capture Light and Shadow

Creating a sense of light and shadow is the secret to bringing your easy watercolor landscape to life. It adds depth, dimension, and a touch of realism. But how do you do it? Let's explore a couple of strategies.

Observe Your Surroundings

Paying attention to the world around you can significantly improve your understanding of light and shadow. Look at how the sunlight hits trees, buildings, and other objects around you. Notice how it changes throughout the day and how shadows shift and change in size. These observations can help you translate those effects into your paintings and make your landscapes more realistic and engaging.

Use Dark and Light Values

Learning to use different values of color—light, medium, and dark—is key to creating a sense of light and shadow. Light values can suggest areas hit by light, while darker values can indicate shadowed areas. Using a mix of these values can give your painting contrast and depth, making your easy watercolor landscape more dynamic and eye-catching.

Mastering light and shadow takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, it can transform your paintings. It's the difference between a flat image and one that feels like you could step right into it. So, give it a try, experiment, and see how it changes your work.

Remember, watercolor painting is a journey. So, enjoy each step, learn from your mistakes, and keep experimenting. Happy painting!

If you enjoyed learning about painting beautiful watercolor landscapes and want to try a unique approach, check out the workshop 'Creating Landscapes on Cardboard: Getting Started' by Shazlin. In this workshop, you'll discover how to create stunning landscapes using cardboard as your canvas, adding an exciting twist to your art journey.