Last Updated on October 15, 2026 by Dee
Here are 21 simple watercolor paintings and easy ideas for beginners, plus free Spring Watercolor Templates to print.
Download Free Spring Watercolor Templates HERE (below)!
Want more simple scenes to paint?
My Cozy Watercolor Practice Book has 38 cosy paint-along templates, soft pencil outlines you print and paint over, from lavender mugs to a rainy window seat. It comes with a colour guide showing a painted example of every one. PDF plus individual images, £14.
See the practice book →Quick Answer: This list has 21 simple watercolor paintings for beginners, from loose abstract swatches and soft florals to mini landscapes, feathers and seasonal cards, all needing minimal supplies.
If you’re looking for simple watercolor paintings to try, you’re in the right place! Watercolor painting is a relaxing and creative hobby, and you don’t need to be an expert to create beautiful artwork. Whether you’re interested in watercolor drawing, mini paintings, or just need some watercolour inspiration, these easy watercolor art ideas will help you get started.
In this list, you’ll find a mix of cute watercolor paintings, abstract watercolor pieces, and watercolor illustrations that anyone can create with minimal supplies. These ideas are perfect for beginners looking for watercolor paintings for beginners and simple watercolor for beginners.
I’ve put together TWO free printable packs for you — grab the free Spring Watercolor Templates at the top of this post, and keep scrolling for a bonus set of Watercolor Bookmark Templates further down!
Table of Contents
Enjoying these simple paintings? The premium reference sets on my Patreon add colour-recipe cards, so mixing stops being the hard part.
See the reference sets →What You’ll Need: Watercolor Painting Supplies
This is my go-to list of recommended watercolor painting supplies that we use for all our watercolor art, junk journaling, and art journaling!
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- Board: If you’re using watercolor paper from a pad or sheets, you might want to tape your paper down to a board to prevent warping.
Shopping from the UK or Europe? Jackson’s Art has a lovely range of watercolour paints, paper, brushes and palettes, and ships across the UK and Europe.
- Watercolors: Windsor & Newton is a reputable brand that offers high-quality watercolor paints. You can choose from their range of professional-grade watercolor tubes or pans, depending on your preference.
- Watercolor Paper: Look for cold-pressed, 140lb (300gsm) watercolor paper for the best results. This type of paper is durable and has a nice texture that’s ideal for watercolor painting.
- Brushes: A selection of round and flat brushes in various sizes will give you the versatility you need for different strokes and details. Sable or synthetic brushes designed for watercolor will give you the best performance.
- Palette: A mixing palette with wells for both mixing and holding your paints is essential. It can be a simple plastic one or a porcelain palette for a more luxurious feel.
- Water Container: Any clean jar or container will do, but having two for clean and dirty water can help keep your colors pure.
- Masking Fluid: This is used to cover areas of your painting that you want to keep white. Make sure to apply it with an old brush or a dedicated masking fluid brush, as it can ruin fine bristles.
- Pencils: A soft pencil, like a 2B, is great for sketching your design before painting.
- Eraser: A kneaded eraser is gentle on watercolor paper and can lift pencil lines without damaging the surface.
- Paper Towels or a Rag: These are useful for blotting your brush to control the amount of water and paint.
**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**
21 Simple Watercolor Paintings For Beginners
1. Soft Floral Watercolor Drawing
Floral designs are a great way to practice watercolor art. Use light washes to create soft petals and add delicate details with a fine brush.
2. Mini Paintings on Watercolor Paper
Create small, cute watercolor paintings on postcard-sized paper. Mini paintings are easy to complete and perfect for trying out new techniques.
3. Easy Watercolor Blueberry Illustration
Blueberry watercolor paintings are fun to create! Start with soft blue circles, then layer in some darker shades for dimension.
4. Watercolor Landscape for Beginners
A simple landscape watercolor tutorial could include a sky, rolling hills, and a soft sunset. Keep the brushstrokes loose and flowing.
5. Abstract Watercolor Swatches
Abstract painting is an excellent way to explore watercolor inspiration. Try blending colors together for a dreamy, effortless effect.
6. Simple Watercolor Sunset Scene
Use warm colors to paint a watercolor painting for beginners featuring a glowing sunset over the ocean.
🌅 Related: Easy Watercolor Sunset Tutorial
7. Watercolor Art of a Feather
Feathers are great for easy watercolor painting ideas because they allow for soft gradients and texture practice.
8. Watercolor Pencil Sunset
A stunning way to blend both dry and wet media is by painting a sunset using watercolor pencils!
🎨 Related: Watercolor Pencil Sunset Tutorial
9. Cute Watercolor Cactus
For a cute watercolor painting, try a simple cactus in a pot. Use green shades and add fun little spines.
10. Watercolor Art for Beginners: Simple Trees
A simple watercolor for beginners is painting trees with a round brush—use different greens and browns for variety.
11. Whimsical Watercolor Mushrooms
A trending watercolor illustration idea is a collection of colorful mushrooms with little details like dots or lines.
12. Watercolor Mountain Silhouettes
Paint soft mountain ranges in layers using watercolor inspiration from nature. Let each layer dry before adding the next.
13. Fun and Easy Watercolor Clouds
Painting soft, fluffy clouds is a great way to practice blending in watercolor drawing.
14. Simple Watercolor Butterflies
Butterflies make for cute watercolor paintings—use soft colors for the wings and add delicate details.
15. Experimenting with Watercolor Pencils
If you love watercolor but want more control, try using watercolor pencils! They allow you to sketch first and blend later.
🖌️ Related: How to Use Watercolor Pencils
16. Simple Watercolor Patterns
Choosing the right supplies can make all the difference in your painting journey.
✨ Related: Best Watercolor Pencils
17. Easy Watercolor Spring Flowers
Celebrate the season with some spring watercolor ideas for beginners—soft pastels and floral designs are always a great choice.
🌸 Related: Spring Watercolor Ideas
18. Watercolor Birthday Card Designs
Create easy watercolor birthday cards with fun, simple designs like balloons, flowers, or confetti patterns!
🎂 Related: Easy Watercolor Birthday Cards
19. Watercolor Sketchbook Ideas
Keeping a watercolor sketchbook is a great way to improve your skills and explore different art watercolor ideas.
📖 Related: Sketchbook Watercolor Ideas
20. Watercolor Jellyfish Painting
Jellyfish are easy to paint using flowing brushstrokes and abstract watercolor techniques.
21. Simple Watercolor Christmas Card
Try a festive watercolor painting for beginners like a snowy pine tree or a Christmas wreath.
Save This Pin For Future Watercolor Inspiration!
🎨 Want more free printables? Browse my Free Printables Library — over 400 free templates, coloring pages, drawing guides, and creative resources all in one place!
For ready-to-paint outlines, grab my watercolor templates PDF for beginners or these free printable watercolor templates for adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the easiest watercolor painting to start with?
Loose abstract swatches or a simple sunset wash are the gentlest places to begin, because there's no “wrong” shape to get right — you're just playing with colour bleeding into water. From there, soft florals and mini feather studies build your confidence with edges and detail. Pick something with only two or three colours so you're learning the paint, not juggling a whole palette.
Why does my watercolor look muddy?
Muddy colour usually happens when you mix too many pigments together or keep painting into an area that's still wet with a different colour. Let each wash dry before you add the next layer, and try to mix two colours at most for any single blend. Rinsing your brush properly between colours makes a bigger difference than most beginners expect.
How much water should I use?
More water means lighter, softer colour; less water gives you stronger, more defined marks. A good habit is to keep a scrap of the same paper beside you and test your brush before it touches the painting — that quick check saves a lot of “too dark” surprises. Watercolour always dries lighter than it looks when wet, so build up gradually rather than going bold straight away.
Do I need special paper, or will printer paper do?
Regular printer paper buckles and pills the moment it gets wet, so it'll frustrate you fast. Even inexpensive 200–300gsm watercolour paper makes painting feel completely different, because it actually holds the water and lets colours blend the way they're meant to. If you print the free templates in this post, run them onto watercolour paper so you can paint straight over the lines.
More Free Printables For You!
Here’s a bonus set of printable watercolor bookmark templates — a fun little project to practise your watercolor skills on a smaller scale.
Love These Watercolor Resources? Get Even More Exclusive Creative Goodies on My Patreon! 🎨
If you’re enjoying these free printables, why not join my Artsydee Patreon community? As a member, you’ll gain access to exclusive Procreate tutorials, watercolor lessons, and tons of printables like this one, which are delivered to you monthly (and sometimes even twice a month!). Plus, you’ll get sneak peeks at upcoming projects and have a say in what content I create next. ✨
Join today and unlock premium resources to take your creativity to the next level!
If the free Spring Watercolor Templates got you painting regularly, here’s your next step. My premium reference sets on Patreon come with colour-recipe cards, so you always know exactly which paints to mix — from £14 (~$18).
Browse the reference sets →Fancy Painting With Me This Winter?
If these simple paintings have you itching to keep going, I have something for you. The Artsydee School of Wonky Watercolour is eight gentle weeks of painting together, taught by me, at a pace that fits around real life. Term Two, Cosy Winter Studio, starts on Monday 11 January, and the waitlist hears first when the doors open. You don’t need Term One to join.
Thank you for these templates Im very new to watercolours and any inspiration and help is greatly appreciated!