Nature Watercolor Ideas: Start with One Small Detail
Nature was the theme of this Watercolor Friday session. You can take the same idea outside or work from a photograph: choose one small detail rather than trying to fit a whole landscape onto the page.
Three Places to Begin
- A single leaf: notice its outline, then choose one light color and one darker mix for the veins.
- A patch of sky: begin with a pale wash and leave some white paper for clouds. Try our wet-on-wet guide for softer edges.
- A small plant: simplify it into a few shapes. Our cactus tutorial shows how a light wash and a few details can work together.
Pack for a Small Study
Bring watercolor paper, a brush, paints, clean water and a cloth. Choose a comfortable place to sit and keep your first study small enough to finish without rushing.
A Kit for Painting Outside
TRAVELER Classic Watercolor Kit – 12 Colors includes twelve colors, ten watercolor postcards, a travel brush and water brush, drawing tools and a storage bag. Bring clean water and a cloth.
Want more ready-to-use colors? EXPLORER Watercolor Kit – Hand-Poured 24 Colors includes twenty-four colors and travel tools. Mirrorlike is an option within that product, rather than a separate color count.
Keep a Page for Another Day
Save your next study for an autumn subject, or try maple leaves step by step.