I didn’t always love using watercolors as much as I do today. As I practiced more and more, and learned more, I started to appreciate this amazing, versatile medium. There is so much you can do with watercolor. I can’t wait to learn more, and get better at it. Here are some free watercolor artlessons that I have made for you. I hope you like them.
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Let’s talk about some basic art supplies first. My favorite watercolors to use for myself and when teaching kids are honey based semi moist watercolors that I buy from a Russian bookstore in Brooklyn. However, I have found ones that are really close on amazon, so check them out: WATERCOLOR PAINTS. Recently I have tried another watercolor paints that I really enjoyed using: KOI FIELD WATERCOLOR PAINTS. For paper there is a wide selection out there. For kid classes I often turn to Strathmore paper, like THIS ONE, they come in a variety of sizes, and work great for kids. For myself I prefer thicker paper that allows for more water and doesn’t bend easily. That usually means for me is that I need to go to a store and feel the paper before buying. I also do the same with brushes for my paintings. For the kids, and often for myself,I like these BRUSHES. Often when I do an art lesson we wind up using black permanent markers. THESE are the ones I like. They don’t run when water touches them and they don’t have that horrid smell that comes with permanent markers so often.
Watercolor Art Lessons:
Watercolor Sunset
Watercolor can be a difficult medium to master. Luckily this painting is easy and fun to do. Using rainbow colors to create the background, and silhouettes to paint in all the details, such as trees and the boat, make this painting simple, and yet dramatic.
Negative Space Watercolor Paintings
These paintings explore negative space, color value, and atmospheric perspective, all using watercolor paint and contact paper. Sometimes I need a lesson that is explores a concept in a fun way, and lasts exactly one hour, and doesn’t carry over into the following week, and so this is exactly what this was.
Fun Space, Galaxy and Alien Landscape Painting in Watercolor
These paintings allowed me to explore various watercolor techniques, while having a great time with the process. I really enjoyed making them, so I wanted to share the step by step process with others. I hope you have as much fun painting these as I did.
Painting Daisies
Tutorial for drawing and painting daisies using negative watercolor painting technique. I found the process to be very enjoyable and fun. Here you will find my step by step process for drawing the daisies, and then transferring that drawing to watercolor paper, followed by the step by step process for painting them!
3D Watercolor Aquarium Fish
This 3D aquarium full of fish was fun to make, and put together into a 3D collage. Combining crayon resist, warm and cold colors, patterns and textures, as well as elements of perspective into a single lesson. I am fond of mixed media, and collage, so this was a lot of fun for me.
Homemade Watercolor Paints
We made these great homemade watercolor paints. They were so much fun! There were bubbling chemical reactions, making our own unique colors, mixing things and fun painting. The kids and I loved it! We also made ink out of old markers and rubbing alcohol.
Watercolor Water Lilies
Many wonderful artists have painted water lilies. I decided to make this quick lesson of how to draw water lilies, and paint it in with watercolor paint. First I did a drawing in markers for different flowers, and then the painting, taking lots of photos along the way!
Cherry Blossom Watercolor Painting
In this lesson I have two different ways to paint cherry blossoms with watercolor. The first one is easier and quicker, the second one is not difficult, though it does take some time and effort. I also made instructions on how to draw the cherry blossoms in marker.
Fun Mural Painting Art Lesson
This is a great lesson for a group of kids to work together on. It was so much fun to do, and had produced a lot of giggles. The kids worked together using markers, watercolor paint and watercolor pencils to create this underwater scene.
Watercolor Buildings Painting Tutorial
This painting might look daunting at first, but if you just follow the simple directions the results will surprise you. It is all made of basic shapes and little details make it beautiful! Painted in watercolor, a bit of acrylic and ink.
Crayon Resist Fall Leaves Art Lesson
Did you know that when you draw with a white crayon, pressing hard on the paper, and then paint it over with watercolors, thewhite of the crayonwill come through? This is such a simple and fun art project. It is fun to watch the kids faces light up as they see the white crayon show through the paper.
