Easy Watercolor Doodles for Beginners: Step-by-Step

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 5 min read

Dabbling in the world of watercolor doodles can be a relaxing and rewarding experience. Let's explore step-by-step how to create your first doodle watercolor masterpiece, even if you're just starting out. Not only will you discover the joy of expressing yourself through this unique art form, but you'll also realize that creating beautiful doodle watercolors is easier than you might think!

1. Gathering Your Materials

Before you start your doodle watercolor journey, you'll need to gather the right tools. Just like a chef needs the right ingredients to cook a delicious meal, an artist needs the right materials to create a stunning piece of art. Here's what you'll need:

Choose Your Brushes

Different brushes can create different effects in your artwork. Here's a handy guide to help you select the right brushes:

Round brushes: Perfect for creating fine lines and details. A size 6 or 8 round brush is a good starting point.
Flat brushes: Excellent for making broad strokes and filling large areas with color. Try a 1-inch flat brush to start.

Select Your Paints

Watercolor paints come in a variety of colors and forms. Here's a quick rundown:

Tubes: These contain thick, vibrant paint and are great for larger projects. You'll want to get a basic color set to start.
Pans: These contain dried paint that you reactivate with water. A set of pan watercolors is portable and great for doodling on the go.

Pick the Perfect Paper

The type of paper you use can have a big impact on your doodle watercolor. Here's what you need to know:

Weight: Heavier paper can handle more water without warping. Try a 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper to start.
Texture: Watercolor paper comes in three textures: hot press (smooth), cold press (medium texture), and rough. Cold press paper is a favorite among many artists for its versatility.

Now that you have gathered your materials, you're ready to dive into the basic techniques of watercolor doodling. Stay tuned!

2. Basic Techniques

Now that you've gathered your materials, it's time to get your hands wet—literally! Understanding the basic techniques of watercolor painting will help you gain confidence and control over your artwork. Here are three key techniques to get you started:

Wet-on-wet

Just like it sounds, the wet-on-wet technique involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface. This technique is great for creating soft, smooth color transitions and dreamy, blurred effects. Here's how you can do it:

First, wet your paper with clean water using a large brush.
Then, before the surface has time to dry, apply your watercolor paint. Watch as the colors flow and blend together on the page!

Wet-on-dry

In contrast to wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry involves applying wet paint onto a dry surface. This technique allows for more control and produces sharp, defined edges—perfect for details and precision in your doodle watercolor. Here's how:

Start with a dry piece of watercolor paper.
Then, apply your wet paint straight onto the dry surface. Notice how the paint only goes where your brush takes it, giving you complete control over your strokes.

Dry-on-dry

The dry-on-dry technique involves applying dry paint onto a dry surface. This technique is great for creating texture and detail in your artwork. Here's how:

First, wet your brush and swipe it across your paint color.
Then, dab your brush on a paper towel to remove most of the moisture.
Now, apply your "dry" paint onto your dry paper. Notice how this results in a textured, grainy effect.

With these basic techniques under your belt, you're ready to start sketching your very first doodle watercolor. Exciting, isn't it?

3. Sketching Your Doodle

Alright, with your brushes, paints, perfect paper, and basic techniques in hand, you are well-prepared to start sketching your doodle. Remember, doodling is all about enjoying the process and letting your creativity flow. Let's break it down:

Basic Shapes

Every doodle starts with basic shapes. Circles, squares, triangles—you name it. Start by lightly sketching these shapes onto your paper. Don't worry about perfection here; the beauty of doodle watercolors comes from their whimsy and charm. Have you ever thought that the simplest of shapes could lead to such fun creations?

Adding Details

Once you have your basic shapes, it's time to add some details. These can be anything from lines and dots to patterns and textures. Let your imagination take the lead. You'd be surprised at how a few lines and dots can transform a simple circle into a delightful doodle!

Experiment with Patterns

Patterns can bring your doodle watercolor to life. Stripes, polka dots, swirls, zigzags—there's no limit. Experiment with different patterns within your shapes and around your doodle. Isn't it amazing to see your basic shapes evolve into unique, intricate art?

With your sketch complete, you're ready to bring color into your doodle. So, shall we dive into the world of color?

4. Painting Your Doodle

Now that you've sketched your doodle, it's time to bring it to life with colors. This is where your doodle watercolor truly starts to shine. So, grab your selected paints, and let's get started:

Applying Color

Start by choosing colors that inspire you. Feel free to experiment and mix different watercolor paints to create unique shades. Apply the color gently to your doodle, staying within your sketched lines. Notice how the colors breathe life into your sketch? That's the magic of doodle watercolor.

Blending Colors

Blend your colors to create depth and dimension in your doodle. Lightly wet your brush, pick up two colors, and let them merge on the paper. You can blend colors within a shape or between different shapes. Isn't it fascinating how blending can create such a range of hues and tones?

Adding Highlights and Shadows

Finally, add highlights and shadows to your doodle. Use lighter shades for highlights and darker shades for shadows. This will give your doodle a three-dimensional look. Can you see how highlights and shadows give your doodle watercolor a sense of depth?

With your doodle painted, you're almost at the finish line. Only a few finishing touches are left. Ready to add the final flourishes to your masterpiece?

5. Finishing Touches

The final steps of your doodle watercolor journey are all about refinement and protection. Let's dot the i's and cross the t's:

Adding Outline

A bold outline can make your doodle pop! Use a fine-tip pen to draw around the edges of your doodle. This can define your shapes more clearly and give your work a polished look. Notice how the outline sharpens the details of your doodle watercolor?

Using White Gel Pen

Have you heard of the white gel pen trick? A white gel pen can be used to add small highlights or details, like sparkles or twinkling stars. Try it out on your doodle. It's a small addition that can have a big impact. Can you see how the white gel pen adds a touch of magic to your doodle watercolor?

Protecting Your Work

Lastly, don't forget to protect your artwork. You can use a fixative spray to help preserve the colors and prevent smudging. Remember to do this in a well-ventilated area. Now, not only does your doodle watercolor look great—it's also well-protected for the future.

And there you have it! You've successfully created your first doodle watercolor. How does it feel to see your creation come to life? Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep doodling and keep painting. Who knows, your next doodle watercolor could be a masterpiece waiting to happen!

If you enjoyed learning about easy watercolor doodles for beginners and want to explore more creative techniques using watercolors, check out the workshop 'Using Watercolours to Create Colourful Calligraphy' by BlinkLettering. In this workshop, you'll discover how to add a splash of color to your calligraphy projects and elevate your watercolor skills to the next level.