Last Updated on July 17, 2026 by Dee
Are you ready to spread your wings and soar into the realm of artistic expression? I have a treat that will have your paintbrushes fluttering with excitement – an array of 20 Whimsical Watercolor Birds Painting Templates & Ideas! Grab the free printable painting templates at the end of this blog post!
20 Bird Templates (Printable Free Patterns)
Essential Watercolor Painting Supplies List For Your Bird Templates
This is our go-to list of recommended watercolor painting supplies that we use for all our watercolor art, junk journaling, and art journaling!
- 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.
- 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.
Grab the Free Watercolor Bird Templates
👉 Pop your email into the box near the top of this post and I’ll send these straight to your inbox — free!
Make sure to get these free Watercolor templates too, and check out my Youtube channel for Watercolor Tips & Tutorials!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Painting the bird set? My premium reference sets on Patreon come with colour-recipe cards, so those feather tones mix cleanly every time.
See the reference sets →What are these bird templates for?
They're printable line templates you paint over — the outline does the drawing for you, so you can focus purely on colour, water control, and having fun. Print one out, tape it down, and treat it as your practice sheet, or use it to trace a clean outline onto watercolour paper first.
What watercolour supplies work best with them?
You don't need anything fancy. A basic student-grade watercolour set, some cold press paper (140lb/300gsm handles water without buckling), and round brushes in sizes 6 and 10 will carry you through every template here. Start simple and add to your kit as you go.
Do I need to be good at watercolour to use these?
Not at all — that's rather the point. Because the outlines are already there, you can relax and play with loose, watery washes without worrying about drawing the bird correctly. The slightly imperfect, blooming look is part of the charm, so beginners tend to love them.
Can I print the bird templates more than once?
Yes, print as many as you like for your own practice. I'd actually encourage it — paint the same bird three or four times and you'll watch your confidence and colour mixing improve with each go.
How do I download the free bird templates?
Use the free download box in this post and enter your email, and the printable templates will be sent to your inbox. Allow up to an hour for the email to land, and peek in your promotions or spam folder if it's playing hard to get.
The free Watercolor Bird Templates hand you the outlines so you can go straight to colour. When you want the colour sorted too, my premium reference sets on Patreon come with colour-recipe cards — from £14 (~$18).
Browse the reference sets →
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