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Last Updated on December 23, 2025 by Dee

Looking for watercolor templates to take the stress out of starting a new painting? You’re in the right place.

Whether you’re brand new to watercolor or just want to skip the sketching and get straight to the brushwork, free watercolor templates are a total game-changer. They give you a ready-made outline so you can focus on what matters most — playing with color, experimenting with techniques, and actually enjoying the process.

I’ve put together a collection of 45+ printable watercolor templates you can download at the end of this post. From delicate florals to simple nature shapes, these outlines are designed to help you paint with confidence (no freehand drawing required!).

Grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let’s dive in. Download the full set of FREE watercolor templates at the end of this post!

Why Use Watercolor Templates?

There’s a bit of a myth floating around that “real artists” don’t use templates. But honestly? That’s nonsense.

Templates are tools — just like brushes, palettes, and good paper. They help you learn faster, build confidence, and create beautiful work without the frustration of getting the drawing “just right” before you even pick up a brush.

Here’s why I love using watercolor templates free resources in my own practice:

They let you focus on painting, not drawing. If sketching isn’t your strong suit (or you just don’t feel like it today), templates remove that barrier entirely. You can jump straight into the fun part — adding washes, building layers, and watching the colors bloom on the page.

They’re perfect for learning new techniques. When you’re trying to master wet-on-wet blending or practice lifting pigment, the last thing you want is to be distracted by a wonky petal shape. A template gives you a solid foundation so you can concentrate on the technique itself.

They build your visual library. The more you paint certain subjects — flowers, leaves, simple landscapes — the more your brain starts to understand their shapes and proportions. Eventually, you won’t need the template at all. It’s training wheels, not a crutch.

They’re incredibly versatile. Use them for greeting cards, journal pages, gift tags, bookmarks, or just pure practice. One template can become dozens of different paintings depending on your color choices and style.

If you’re looking for even more beginner-friendly guidance, check out my post on easy watercolor tutorials for step-by-step video lessons.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Before you print out your watercolor templates and start painting, let’s make sure you’ve got the right supplies. You don’t need anything fancy — especially if you’re just practicing — but a few quality basics will make a big difference.

Watercolor Paper

This is the one thing I’d encourage you to invest in, even as a beginner. Regular printer paper buckles and pills when wet, which makes painting frustrating and your results look… not great.

Look for cold-pressed watercolor paper in 140 lb (300 gsm) weight. It has a lovely texture that holds water well and won’t warp too badly. I recommend Canson XL Watercolor Pads for practice — they’re affordable and work beautifully for everyday painting.

For special projects, Arches Watercolor Paper is the gold standard. It’s pricier, but the way pigment moves on this paper is just dreamy.

Watercolor Paints

You don’t need a hundred colors. A basic set with good pigmentation will take you far.

My top pick for beginners is the Winsor & Newton Cotman Set — it comes with a built-in palette and the colors mix beautifully.

If you’re on a tighter budget, Arteza Watercolor Paints offer surprisingly good quality for the price.

Brushes

A few round brushes in different sizes (small, medium, large) will cover most of what you need. The Princeton Heritage Series are synthetic brushes that hold water beautifully and have a lovely spring to them.

For painting on the go or quick sessions, Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pens are brilliant. The barrel holds water, so you can paint anywhere without lugging around a water cup.

How to Use Printable Watercolor Templates

Watch this easy guide on how to use Watercolor Templates for DIY Watercolor Painting! 👇🏻

There are several ways to transfer a template onto your watercolor paper. Choose whichever method suits your style and supplies.

Method 1: Trace Using a Light Source

This is my favorite approach for detailed templates.

Print your template on regular printer paper. Tape it to a sunny window or place it on a lightbox. Position your watercolor paper on top and lightly trace the outlines with a pencil. Use a light hand — you want faint lines that will disappear under the paint or can be gently erased later.

If you don’t have a lightbox, a bright window works perfectly during the day. You can also prop a lamp under a glass table if you’re crafty!

Method 2: Transfer with Graphite

For thicker watercolor paper where light doesn’t shine through easily, try a graphite transfer.

Flip your printed template over and scribble graphite pencil all over the back. Place the template right-side-up on your watercolor paper and trace over the lines with a ballpoint pen. The graphite will transfer onto your painting surface, giving you a faint outline to follow.

Method 3: Print Directly onto Watercolor Paper

Some inkjet printers can handle thinner watercolor paper (around 140 lb). If yours can, this is the quickest method — just print the template directly onto your painting surface.

Fair warning: not all printers love thick paper, so test with a single sheet first. And make sure you’re using waterproof ink or letting the print dry completely before adding water, or your lines might bleed.

Method 4: Use Templates as Reference

You don’t have to trace at all! Some artists prefer to keep the template beside them as a visual guide while sketching freehand. This helps you learn proportions and shapes without relying completely on the outline.

If you’re interested in creating your own reusable stencils from templates, I walk through that process in my post on free watercolor stencils. It’s a great way to use the same design over and over again.

45+ Watercolor Templates Free Designs in This Collection

The free printable watercolor templates at the end of this post include a gorgeous variety of subjects to suit different moods, seasons, and skill levels. Here’s a peek at what’s inside:

Floral Watercolor Templates

Flowers are the most popular subject for watercolor painting, and for good reason. The organic shapes are forgiving, the colors are endless, and there’s something deeply satisfying about watching petals come to life on the page.

This collection includes simple single blooms like roses, daisies, and peonies, along with more complex arrangements featuring multiple flowers and leaves. Start with the simpler designs if you’re new, then work your way up to the fuller compositions.

Want even more floral inspiration? My watercolor flowers tutorial has 60+ ideas plus step-by-step tips for painting different bloom types.

Botanical and Leaf Templates

There’s something wonderfully calming about painting greenery. Leaves are simpler than flowers in many ways, making them perfect for beginners who want to practice basic brush control and color mixing.

The collection includes individual leaves in various shapes, leafy branches, and simple botanical compositions. Try painting the same leaf template in different green mixtures to see how much variety you can create from just a few colors.

For more botanical printables, check out my free vintage botanical printables collection with over 120 designs.

Nature and Landscape Outlines

Sometimes you want to paint something a little bigger — a soft sky, a simple tree, a gentle hillside. These templates give you basic landscape shapes to fill with dreamy washes and atmospheric color.

They’re especially good for practicing gradient techniques, where you blend one color into another smoothly across the page.

If you’re looking for seasonal themes, my fall watercolor ideas post has loads of autumn-inspired templates and painting prompts.

Whimsical and Creative Designs

For those days when you want to paint something purely for fun, I’ve included a few whimsical templates — think butterflies, little birds, and dreamy abstract patterns. These are great for making greeting cards, bookmarks, or journal decorations.

Speaking of bookmarks, you might enjoy my free printable watercolor bookmarks — they’re already painted, but you could create your own versions using templates!

Creative Ways to Use Your Painted Templates

Once you’ve finished painting, the fun doesn’t have to stop. Here are some ideas for what to do with your beautiful watercolor creations:

Make handmade greeting cards. Paint on smaller paper or cut your finished paintings to size, then glue them onto folded cardstock. Personal, heartfelt, and way better than anything from a shop.

Create gift tags. Smaller template designs work brilliantly as gift tags. Punch a hole in the corner, thread some ribbon through, and you’ve got something special to tie onto presents.

Decorate your journal. If you keep a junk journal, art journal, or bullet journal, painted templates make gorgeous additions to your pages. They bring in color and beauty without requiring you to paint directly in the journal itself.

Frame your favorites. When you create something you’re really proud of, frame it! Simple frames from a charity shop or craft store can make your watercolors look like proper gallery pieces.

Design unique stationery. Scan or photograph your painted templates and use them digitally to create custom stationery, notecards, or even phone wallpapers.

For more creative project ideas, have a look at my post on watercolor art ideas with 15 inspiring ways to use your skills.

Tips for Beautiful Watercolor Painting

Even with the best templates, a few technique tips can take your paintings from nice to gorgeous.

Start Light, Build Dark

Watercolor is a transparent medium, which means you build up color in layers. Start with very light washes and let them dry completely before adding darker values. You can always add more pigment, but you can’t take it away (well, not easily).

Embrace the Water

Don’t be afraid of water! Watercolor loves to flow and blend, so let it do its thing. Drop wet paint into wet paint and watch the magic happen. Some of the most beautiful effects come from happy accidents.

Let Layers Dry

Patience is your friend. If you add new paint before the previous layer is dry, you’ll get muddy, overworked areas. Let each layer dry fully — use a hairdryer on low if you’re impatient (I definitely am).

Leave White Space

The white of the paper is your lightest value. Plan ahead and leave areas unpainted for highlights and breathing room. It makes a huge difference to the freshness of your painting.

Don’t Overwork It

Know when to stop! It’s tempting to keep adding and fiddling, but often the first, looser layers are the most beautiful. Step back, squint at your work, and ask yourself if it really needs more.

For a deeper dive into foundational techniques, my how to paint using watercolor guide covers everything beginners need to know.

Download Your Free Watercolor Templates 👇🏻

Happy painting! 🎨

Dee x

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