Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Dee
Nature watercolor paintings are a relaxing way to explore your creativity and connect with the world around you. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for simple projects, these art ideas make it easy to learn basic skills while having fun.
Download the free Watercolor Tree Art Templates at the end of this post!
With clear instructions and beginner-friendly tips, you can paint trees, landscapes, and other nature scenes that look great, even if you’ve never picked up a brush before. You’ll discover how to use simple techniques and turn them into art you can be proud of.
If you need inspiration or want to try your first watercolor trees, these ideas are perfect for you.
Key Takeaways
- Learn the basics of nature watercolor painting.
- Try easy tree painting templates for beginners.
- Get tips and simple subjects for your next painting.
Table of Contents
Getting Started With Nature Watercolor Painting
Starting watercolor painting can be easy and relaxing when you have the right materials and space. With just a few basic supplies, you’ll be ready to create beautiful nature scenes.
Watercolor Painting Supplies To Get Started!
This is my go-to list of recommended watercolor painting supplies that we use for all our watercolor art, junk journaling, and art journaling!
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- Watercolors: Winsor & 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.
- 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.
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You do not need a lot of fancy tools to begin. A simple set of watercolor paints, a palette, a few brushes, and a cup for water are enough to start.
Choose student-grade watercolor paints if you are new, as they are affordable and easy to find.
Choosing the Right Paper and Brushes
The type of paper you use will change how your painting looks. Watercolor paper is thicker and absorbs water better than normal paper.
Look for paper labeled “cold press” because it has a bumpy texture that works well for nature art. Standard weight to start is 140 lb (300 gsm).
Pick brushes that hold water but are not too stiff. Round brushes are good for making both thin lines and wide strokes.
Beginners usually do well with sizes 6 and 10 for most paintings, plus a smaller brush (like size 2) for details.
Here’s a quick table of basic brush types:
| Brush Type | Good For |
|---|---|
| Round | Leaves, details |
| Flat | Skies, washes |
| Liner | Fine branches |
Try your brushes with water first, so you can see how much paint they hold and how they feel on the paper.
Setting Up a Comfortable Workspace
Having a good space helps you enjoy painting more. Use a table with plenty of light, either natural daylight or a bright lamp.
Make sure you can sit up straight and easily reach all of your supplies. Lay down an old cloth or newspaper under your painting area to catch drips and splashes.
Keep your water cup on the same side as your painting hand so it’s easy to dip your brush. Arrange your paints and brushes within arm’s reach and tape your paper to the table so it will not slide or buckle from water.
If you’re looking for more tips or ideas, visit these watercolor painting demonstrations for beginners for extra help.
Fundamental Watercolor Techniques
Learning watercolor painting starts with a few essential methods. You will use these skills to mix your colors, control how they blend, build textures, and shape brush strokes for beautiful nature scenes.
How to Mix and Blend Colors
It’s important to start by choosing just a few colors and learning how to mix them. Place your main colors on your palette and add small amounts of water to adjust the color intensity.
Try mixing two primary colors to make secondary colors. For example, blend yellow and blue to make green.
Experiment with adding more water for lighter, softer colors or using less water for deep, rich tones. Blending happens on both the palette and the paper.
To blend colors smoothly, slightly overlap wet edges while the paint is still damp. This will help you get soft transitions, which work well for painting leaves, skies, and tree canopies.
A simple table like the one below can help you remember mixing basics:
| Color 1 | Color 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Yellow | Green |
| Yellow | Red | Orange |
| Blue | Red | Purple |
Mastering Wet-on-Wet and Wet-on-Dry Methods
Wet-on-wet is when you add wet paint to wet paper. This technique gives you soft edges and allows colors to flow into each other.
Use this to create misty backgrounds or gentle changes in color, like the trunk of a birch tree or the haze of a forest. Wet-on-dry is painting wet paint onto dry paper.
This technique makes sharper shapes and more control over your lines. This is great for painting tree trunks, branches, or adding details to leaves.
Many beginner tree painting tutorials recommend starting with a light wet-on-wet wash and building darker, stronger shapes once the first layer dries.
Practicing both techniques helps you make your paintings look lively and interesting.
Creating Texture and Layers
Layering is key to painting realistic nature scenes. Start with pale, light washes for your base shapes.
Let each layer dry before painting on top. This helps you build up the look of bark, leaves, and shadows.
To create texture, try using the dry brush technique. Dip only the tip of your brush in paint and drag it lightly over the paper so the bristles leave broken marks.
You can use this to add rough tree bark or lightly scattered leaves. Splattering is another fun way to make random leaf patterns.
Tap your brush gently to drop small spots of paint onto the paper. Artists painting trees in the mist often use spraying, splattering, and layering for realistic effects.
Basic Brush Strokes for Nature Scenes
Different brush strokes give you many options for painting nature. Hold your brush straight for thin, crisp lines—perfect for branches or grass.
Press down for wider, fuller strokes to paint leafy areas and broad sky washes. For leaves, try pressing the flat side of your round brush onto the paper and then lifting up quickly.
Use quick, flicking motions for pine needles or wild grass. Practice dabbing your brush at different angles and with different pressure.
This creates variety in your foliage and helps your painting look less stiff. Practice mixing brush types to find your favorite look for painting trees, bushes, and landscapes.
10 Nature Watercolor Painting Ideas
Painting Your First Tree: Free Templates Included
Starting with a simple tree is a great way to practice watercolor basics. Using free templates, you can skip the hard part of drawing and start painting right away.
Templates help guide your hand, so you can focus on color and brush techniques.
How to Use Free Tree Painting Templates
Free tree painting templates make it easy for beginners to get started. You can find a variety of printable templates online, including outlines of trees, leaves, and branches.
Many templates are designed to fit standard printer paper and are ready to use once downloaded. To use a template, you first print it out.
Next, gather your watercolor paper, pencils, and paints. Printable tree templates give you a strong base so you don’t have to worry about the first sketch or getting the basic tree shape right.
If you want inspiration or ready-to-use images, websites like ArtsyDee offer free printable painting templates for watercolor.
Keep your printed template close by for reference as you work. This helps keep your proportions and details accurate while you paint.
Tracing and Transferring Template Designs
To transfer your chosen template to watercolor paper, start by holding your printed template against a window or using a lightbox. Place your watercolor paper on top of the template, making sure the edges are lined up well.
The light will shine through, making the outline visible. Use a sharp pencil to trace the tree design gently onto the watercolor paper.
Don’t press too hard—light lines are easier to cover with paint and won’t damage the paper. If you don’t have a lightbox, you can also use graphite paper and trace over the image by following the lines with a pencil.
After tracing, check for missing lines or important details like main branches and trunk shapes. Erase any extra pencil marks to keep your painting surface clean.
Adding Color and Details to Tree Paintings
Gather your watercolor paints, brushes, a cup of water, and a paper towel before you begin. Start with a light wash of green or brown for the base colors of the tree.
Use the wet-on-wet method for soft, blended leaves. Wet-on-dry works best for sharper, more controlled lines on the branches.
Let each layer dry before adding more detail. Add darker shades to show shadow and depth.
Vary the greens and browns for a more natural look. For fine details, switch to a smaller brush and add lines for bark or tiny leaf clusters.
If you are new to painting, try following along with online tutorials. Check out YouTube channels such as this simple tree watercolor painting practice for step-by-step guidance.
Exploring Popular Nature Subjects
Nature watercolor painting gives you a wide range of beautiful and relaxing subjects to try. You can experiment with different colors, shapes, and textures as you practice new skills and enjoy the natural world.
Painting Simple Forest Landscapes
Painting forests helps you learn about layers, depth, and perspective. Start by sketching a few lines for the ground and sky.
Use light washes of green, brown, and blue to build your scene. You can create the look of distance by making faraway trees lighter and using softer brushstrokes.
Trees do not need to be perfect. Try painting basic shapes for tree trunks and leaf clusters.
Change up the size and placement of your trees for a more natural feel. If you want extra help, you can use free tree painting templates to guide your outlines.
Add shadows using darker green or blue. You can dab a dry brush across the page to give the forest floor a rough, textured look.
For more inspiration and tips, you can explore step-by-step watercolor landscape ideas on sites like Craftionary.
Capturing Flowers and Foliage in Watercolor
Flowers are very popular in watercolor because you can play with bright and lively colors. Begin with a simple flower, like a daisy or a rose.
Use a wet brush to lay down a loose shape for each petal or leaf. Let the colors mix on the page for natural blending.
To show details, wait for your first layer to dry. Then, add lines, dots, or small strokes to show veins and edges.
Mixing different greens for leaves can help your painting look more realistic. Try yellow-green, blue-green, or even a little brown for variety.
If you prefer sketching, outline simple leaves or flower clusters before adding color. You can find many easy beginner flower ideas at Proactive Creative, which offers step-by-step guides for painting roses, wildflowers, and more.
Creating Skies and Water Elements
Painting skies teaches you to use soft washes and gentle blending. Try starting with a wet page, then brush on light blue for your sky.
Add a touch of purple, pink, or orange for a sunrise or sunset effect. Clouds can be made by lifting wet paint with a dry brush or paper towel.
For more detailed clouds, use a small round brush to shape the edges and soften the middle. Skies should look soft and airy, not hard-edged.
Water scenes like lakes or rivers use similar techniques. Paint a light wash, then add deeper blue or green for shadows and reflections.
Break up the color with gentle horizontal lines to show ripples. For step-by-step nature scenes that include skies and water, you can visit Artsydee for helpful beginner tutorials.
Tips for Progressing in Nature Watercolor Art
Learning to paint nature with watercolors takes practice and patience. By watching for common pitfalls and doing helpful exercises, you’ll get better results and enjoy each step.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
One common mistake is using too much water, which can cause your colors to bleed and your paper to warp. Try to control the amount of water on your brush by blotting it lightly before painting.
Another issue is being afraid to use enough pigment. If your colors look faded, add more paint to your brush and build layers gradually.
Beginners sometimes rush the process and do not let layers dry. This can cause muddy colors and lost details.
Remember to pause between steps and let your painting dry fully. Skipping sketching is also common.
Lightly drawing your outline in pencil first helps you plan and avoid mistakes.
Quick Checklist:
- Control brush water
- Use enough pigment
- Let each layer dry
- Sketch before painting
Inspiration and Practice Exercises
Getting inspiration can help you stay motivated. Go on nature walks and take photos of trees, leaves, and landscapes.
You can also look at beginner-friendly ideas like step-by-step tree and landscape tutorials to guide you.
Try simple practice exercises like painting leaves in different shades of green. Make mini studies of tree branches.
You might also use free painting templates found online to trace and paint, building your confidence with basic shapes.
To build skill, paint the same scene at different times of day, noticing how the lighting and colors change. Make a habit of filling small watercolor sheets with quick nature sketches.
Keep a nature journal. Use lists, small paintings, and even color swatches to practice observation, keeping your creativity flowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning how to paint nature with watercolors is a fun way to improve your art skills. You can find simple templates, helpful resources, and even books focused on tree and nature painting.
What are some helpful tips for beginners starting with nature watercolor paintings?
Start with good quality watercolor paper and a simple set of paints. Use a large brush for your first washes, and switch to a small brush for adding details.
Try painting flat on a table or at a slight angle to keep colors from running everywhere. Practice painting trees, clouds, and other natural shapes.
Don’t worry if your painting isn’t perfect. You will get better with every attempt.
Where can I find free printable tree painting templates for watercolor practice?
You can download and print free tree templates for watercolor painting. These templates help you get started without having to draw the outline yourself.
Look for simple black line designs that make painting easier.
Are there watercolor templates available in PDF format for easy downloading and printing?
Yes, many places offer watercolor templates in PDF format. You can find PDFs that are ready to print, so you can start painting right away.
Look for art websites, blogs, or even Pinterest for printable PDF options.
Can beginners find simplified watercolor sketches that are suited for learning the basics?
Many sites share easy sketch outlines for beginners to trace or paint over. These simple templates remove the pressure of drawing and let you focus on painting.
Choose designs that have bold outlines and not too many details.
What are good resources for watercolor templates specifically designed for kids?
There are several easy tree painting ideas for kids that come with free templates. These resources often use fun shapes, simple lines, and leave lots of space for creativity.
Craft websites and art teachers sometimes share printable guides for younger artists.
Do any watercolor template books exist that cater to nature and tree painting?
Yes, you can find books with watercolor templates centered around trees, flowers, and landscapes.
These books offer step-by-step guides and templates you can trace or copy.
Check online bookstores, art shops, or your local library for activity books that focus on nature watercolor painting.
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