Last Updated on July 7, 2026 by Dee
Embark on a creative journey with our collection of 30 Butterfly Templates for Watercolor Painting, perfect for artists and crafters of all skill levels. These free printable PDF templates provide a beautiful and versatile foundation for your watercolor masterpieces.
Grab the Free Butterfly Watercolor Templates HERE (below)!
30 Butterfly Watercolor Templates
Whether you’re looking to practice your painting techniques or searching for a fun and relaxing art project, these butterfly outlines cater to a wide array of styles and preferences. At the end of this blog post, you can easily grab these free printable templates and start transforming blank pages into vibrant expressions of color and life. So gather your watercolors, and let your imagination take flight with each brushstroke!
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How to Use Your Watercolor Butterfly Templates
To make the most of your “30 Butterfly Templates for Watercolor Painting,” follow these simple instructions to transfer your chosen designs onto watercolor paper:
Printing the Butterfly Templates:
- Download the PDF collection of butterfly templates provided at the end of the blog post.
- Open the PDF and select the ‘Print’ option. Before printing, ensure you adjust the size settings to your preference. You can scale the image to fit the page or select a specific size based on your project needs.
- Print the templates out on standard paper for tracing or directly onto watercolor paper if your printer accommodates thicker paper.
Tracing the Templates:
- Place your watercolor paper over the printed template. You might need to secure both papers with tape to prevent slipping.
- Use a window or a lightbox for easier tracing. The backlit surface will help you see the lines clearly through the watercolor paper.
- Trace the outline of the butterfly template onto your watercolor paper using a pencil. Apply gentle pressure to avoid heavy marks that might be hard to erase after painting.
Using Transfer Paper:
- Place a sheet of transfer paper (carbon paper) between the printed template and your watercolor paper. Make sure the transfer side is facing down towards the watercolor paper.
- Secure the layers with tape to keep them from moving.
- Trace over the butterfly template with a stylus or a ballpoint pen. The pressure will transfer the design onto the watercolor paper.
Pencil Rubbing Transfer Method:
- Take a regular pencil (preferably a soft lead pencil like a 2B) and shade over the back of the printed template. Cover all the lines of the butterfly design with a thick layer of pencil graphite.
- Position the template, graphite side down, onto your watercolor paper.
- Tape down the corners to keep the template in place.
- Trace over the butterfly design with a pencil or pen, pressing firmly to transfer the graphite onto the watercolor paper.
Once you’ve successfully transferred the butterfly outline onto your watercolor paper, you’re ready to begin painting. Remember to let your creativity soar as you bring these intricate designs to life with your watercolor palette. Enjoy the process of mixing colors, experimenting with techniques, and watching your butterflies emerge in a flurry of color.
Essential Watercolor Painting Supplies List
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.
Make sure to get these free Watercolor templates too!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these butterfly templates good for beginners?
Absolutely — the clean outlines do the tricky drawing part for you, so you can focus on colour and technique. Start with a simple wash inside the shapes and build up from there. There's no wrong way to do it, and the line art gives you a friendly guide to stay inside if you want to.
Do I have to use watercolor, or can I use other media?
You can use whatever you love. These templates work just as well with coloured pencils, gel pens, markers, or brush pens, and you can even scan them in to colour digitally in an app like Procreate. Watercolor gives that soft, dreamy look, but the line art is happy to be painted, coloured, or drawn over.
Can I print the templates straight onto watercolor paper?
Yes, and it's worth doing if you plan to paint them. Most home printers will handle lighter watercolor paper (around 190gsm) — feed one sheet at a time and check your printer's maximum paper weight first. Heavier cold-pressed paper holds up beautifully to water without buckling.
Can I resize the templates or print them smaller?
Yes — the PDF prints at full A4 size, but you can shrink it in your printer settings to fit several butterflies on one page or to make smaller pieces for cards and journals. Choose "fit to page" or set a custom scale like 70% before printing. Smaller versions are lovely for gift tags and junk journal spreads.
Can I sell the artwork I paint from these templates?
The templates are free for personal use and for practising your painting. If you'd like to sell finished original paintings you've made from them, that's generally fine, but please don't resell or redistribute the template files themselves. When in doubt, drop me a message and I'm happy to help.
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I love all the help you have been for me. Thankyou for sharing this with us.
It’s my pleasure and I am so pleased it has helped!
Thank you for the resources.
My pleasure Dave, hope you enjoy using them 🙂
Muy bueno el material
Beautiful I can only hope I could create something so good