How to Art Journal Through a Creative Block: 5 Easy Watercolor Tips for Beginners

Watercolor can be frustrating when you’re first exploring this medium. Follow these easy watercolor techniques so you can elevate your art journal.

5 watercolor techniques for beginners that you need to try now:

1. Paint a light watercolor wash

When painting a composition, start with a light base layer. This is essentially your “template”. Start by painting the larger shapes of the subject first and the details can come later. You’re painting with 95% water and a tiny amount of pigment on the brush.

Paint a light wash with 95% water and a small amount of pigment. Watch video for demonstration.

2. Work in layers and let your layers dry— the easiest watercolor trick that most beginners ignore

Beginners who use this medium complain that their painting looks muddy and that colors are hard to control. In order to avoid this, the simplest technique is to be patient, and wait for your layers to dry. Some people go as far as using a blow dryer to speed up the wait time. When the layers dry, the paint won’t bleed into one another leaving a sharp line. Alternatively, if you want a gradient effect with one color bleeding into another, then you would paint on a surface that’s more damp. 

Allowing layers to dry can help you control the shape of the subject you are painting.

3. Start with dark values and then your highlights

Just like my oil painting techniques, I start by adding the darker values in the composition. Once you fill in the darker values, go in with the lighter shades. Your painting should start looking more 3 dimensional at this point. 

4. Enhance watercolor pigments with white gouache 

This is a trick I learned from watching other artists paint using this medium. White gouache makes watercolor pigments more opaque. Gouache and watercolor are generally made of the same materials. The difference, however, is gouache dries matte and has an opaque quality whereas watercolor is transparent. Add some white gouache to your palette and mix in your watercolor pigments to it. See what happens! I recommend using gouache for the intricate details in your painting so they stand out. 

Mixing in gouache with watercolor so details stand out against the transparent watercolor medium.

5. Save the details for the end

It might be tempting to start adding the details early on, especially when you’re working off a reference photo. Beginners tend to be fixated by the intricate details—i.e. what’s in front of them—but an important watercolor technique is to look past the details and paint the larger shapes first. Learn to study the structure of your subject, the values of the colors, and layering techniques, before you add in the details. When it does come time to add in the details, it truly is worth the wait. 

Full follow along tutorial available here

Bonus Tip:

Explore the practice of art journaling to practice new art techniques. 

Finding it hard to create? 

Well, you’re not alone.

Most artists I speak to eventually come across creative blocks. Whether you’re a professional artist, intermediate, or just starting out— it can be difficult to find motivation. 

This is an exercise I turn to when I’m facing a creative rut. It includes:

• Stepping away from your work

• Going for a walk and exploring new places or perhaps revisiting a favorite spot

• Capturing reference photos

• Letting the environment around guide you on what to paint next

• Leaving perfectionism behind and practice art journaling

Art journaling is similar to a written diary but it incorporates images, art and textures. It’s a practice that focuses on exploration, risks, and creative therapy. 

Follow along this art journal painting tutorial which revisits the watercolor techniques I’ve shared. You can see me apply those techniques in real time.