Last Updated on July 18, 2026 by Dee
There’s just something magical about painting butterflies. 🦋
Their delicate wings, endless color combinations, and whimsical shapes make them one of my favorite subjects to paint when I want to relax and get into a creative flow.
Download the Free Spring Watercolor Templates below!
In this easy butterfly watercolor painting tutorial, I’m sharing how to paint a beautiful watercolor butterfly step-by-step —perfect for beginners or anyone looking to unwind with a peaceful painting session. I’ll guide you through outlining the shape, layering watercolor washes, blending colors, and adding those final ink and white gel pen details that really make it pop.
If you’re anything like me and love mixing watercolor with a touch of ink, you’re going to enjoy this one!
Let’s get started…
Table of Contents
Watch the Step-by-Step Easy Butterfly Watercolor Painting Tutorial
This is a wonderful project to relax with, especially if you’re trying to improve your brush control or watercolor layering. You can also watch the full step by step painting tutorial on YouTube here:
🎨 Watch it now
What You’ll Need: Watercolor Butterfly 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!
**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.**
- 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.
- 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.Step-by-Step Instructions
Step By Step Painting Tutorial: Watercolor Butterfly
Here’s the recipe at a glance — pin it for later, or keep reading for the full step-by-step.
- Sketch the Butterfly Outline: Lightly sketch the butterfly’s outline on your watercolor paper. Focus on symmetry and proportion.
- Ink the Details: Use fineliner pens to outline and add intricate details to the butterfly, enhancing its features.
- Apply Base Colors: Using a wet-on-wet technique, apply the base colors to the butterfly’s wings. Allow the colors to blend naturally for a soft effect.
- Add Layered Details: Once the base layer is dry, add more defined patterns and colors to the wings, building up the intensity.
- Final Touches: Add any additional details or background elements as desired. Once satisfied, allow the painting to dry completely.
To make your butterfly watercolor even easier, grab the full premium set of Watercolor Butterfly Templates with index and colour recipe cards here Garden Butterfly Watercolour Templates (Premium Templates & Colour Recipe Cards) 👇🏻
Tips for Success
- Practice Patience: Allow each layer to dry thoroughly before proceeding to avoid unwanted blending.
- Experiment with Colors: Feel free to choose colors that resonate with you, making the artwork uniquely yours.
- Use Quality Materials: Investing in good quality supplies can significantly impact the outcome of your painting.
Get 32 Premium Butterfly Watercolor Templates!
Want to make painting even easier? I’ve created 32 premium butterfly templates that you can use as a guide for your watercolor paintings. These templates help you focus on painting instead of sketching, making the process faster and more fun!
📌 Access the Butterfly Templates + Exclusive Watercolor Resources on my Patreon!
👉 Join Here & Download Instantly
Pin This For Future Creative Inspo!
Download the Free Spring Watercolor Templates HERE (below)!
Love These Watercolor Templates? Get Even More Exclusive Creative Goodies on My Patreon! 🎨
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Join today and unlock premium resources to take your creativity to the next level!
More posts you may enjoy…
Watercolor Pencil Sunset Tutorial
21 Simple Watercolor Paintings
16 Easy Watercolor Tutorials for Beginners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Butterfly wings live or die by the colour blends — my premium reference sets on Patreon come with colour-recipe cards so you know exactly what to mix.
Browse the reference sets →Do I need to be good at watercolour to follow this butterfly tutorial?
Not at all — it's written with beginners in mind. We go step-by-step, from a light pencil outline through to the wet-on-wet washes and the final ink details, so you never feel lost. And if you use the templates, the butterfly shape is already there for you, which means you can relax and focus on the painting rather than the drawing.
What supplies do I need for this watercolour butterfly?
Nothing fancy to begin with. A basic watercolour set (student grade is perfectly fine), cold-pressed 140lb/300gsm paper, and a couple of round brushes — sizes 6 and 10 cover most of it. I also reach for a soft 2B pencil for sketching, fineliner pens for the details, and a white gel pen for those little finishing highlights. A kneaded eraser and some paper towel for blotting round it out.
What are the actual steps to paint the butterfly?
Five gentle stages: lightly sketch the outline, keeping an eye on symmetry; ink the details with a fineliner; lay down your base colours wet-on-wet so they blend softly; once that's dry, add layered patterns and deeper colour to build up the wings; then finish with any final touches and let it dry completely. Patience between layers is the real secret.
How do I download the free spring watercolour templates?
Pop your email address into the box in this post and the printables will be sent straight to your inbox. Give it up to an hour to arrive, and check your promotions or spam folder if it's being shy.
What's the difference between the free templates and the premium set?
The free download gives you spring watercolour templates to get started with. The premium set is a full collection of 32 butterfly templates that comes with an index and colour recipe cards, so you get suggested palettes to paint along with — that one lives over on my Patreon. Lovely if you want to keep painting without sketching each butterfly from scratch.
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If this butterfly got you hooked on soft wing gradients, the mixing is the skill worth building next. My Patreon reference sets pair premium watercolour templates with colour-recipe cards, so every blend is repeatable.
See what’s on Patreon →
These are WONDERFUL! Thanks for your generosity and expertise! Marcy
My pleasure, enjoy!