Last Updated on June 25, 2025 by Dee
Looking to improve your watercolor painting but not sure where to start?
These 15 free printable watercolor tree templates make it easy for you to practice your skills and boost your creativity.
Whether you’re just starting or looking for new ideas, printable templates give you a fun way to learn at your own pace.
Each tree design offers a unique challenge, from simple outlines to scenes you can make your own.
Just print them out and grab your paints.
If you want inspiration or a starting point, you can check out watercolor templates ready for printing and painting at home.
Key Takeaways
- Use free templates to start practicing watercolor trees.
- Try new techniques and learn tips for painting success.
- Find quick answers to common watercolor painting questions.
Exploring 15 Free Printable Watercolor Tree Templates
With so many watercolor tree templates out there, it can be hard to know which to choose.
These templates are perfect if you want to practice painting, try new techniques, or make something special for crafts or home decor.
What Makes These Templates Perfect for Beginners
Many watercolor tree templates are designed with simple shapes and clear outlines, so you don’t need to be an expert artist to get started.
The lines give you helpful guidance and help prevent your paints from spreading too much outside the edges.
You don’t need expensive supplies to use these templates.
Printing them at home on basic watercolor paper gets the job done.
The designs often include bare trees, leafy canopies, and each template gives you room to add your own colors and style.
If you want to try a tree without any leaves, you can find a bare tree template that’s easy to use for outlining and experimenting.
Templates help you focus on your brushwork, color blending, and shading without worrying about drawing every line.
This lets you practice watercolor techniques and build confidence while creating artwork you can display or gift.
15 Trees Watercolor Templates (Download the Free PDF at the end of this post!
Once you have your template, gather your paints, brushes, and water.
Make sure to tape the edges to keep your paper flat.
This will help prevent warping when you add water and colors.
Creative Ideas for Using Watercolor Tree Templates
There are so many ways to use watercolor tree templates.
You could paint several designs and arrange them as a gallery wall or use finished trees in greeting cards.
Try painting the same template in every season, changing leaf colors for fall, adding snow for winter, and using lush greens in spring and summer.
Kids can use these templates for easy painting projects, making them perfect for family activities or classroom use.
They work well for invitations, bookmarks, and even as part of a handmade journal.
Another idea is to print multiple copies and experiment with different styles, like wet-on-wet painting or adding pen details on top.
You can also cut out your painted trees and use them in mixed-media collages or scrapbook layouts.
Highlighting the Most Popular Tree Styles
Among these free templates, some styles stand out as favorites.
Bare trees let you focus on color washes and backgrounds, adding blossoms or leaves as you like.
Full-canopy trees show rounded shapes and are great for practicing blending and shading.
Some templates feature tall pine or fir trees, which are excellent for learning how to paint layered textures.
Seasonal trees are popular too—many people enjoy coloring the same template in both autumn and spring variations.
You can explore a wide collection of tree designs—like realistic, whimsical, or stylized trees—on sites with watercolor tree images.
This makes it easy to find a template that fits your mood or skill level.
Tips for Developing Your Watercolor Painting Skills
Learning to paint with watercolor templates helps you practice your technique and build confidence.
With the right materials, a simple step-by-step process, and a few easy techniques, you’ll notice steady improvement in your watercolor art.
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!
**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.**
- 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.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and love in my own art practice. Your
Having these on hand lets you practice more often and keep your supplies organized.
Read more about recommended supplies at this watercolor templates guide.
Step-By-Step Guide to Painting with Templates
Start by printing your chosen watercolor tree template on the watercolor paper if your printer can handle it.
Otherwise, lightly trace the printed outline onto the paper with a pencil.
Tape the paper edges to your table to prevent curling.
Prepare your paints and clean water.
Follow these steps:
- Wet the areas you plan to paint with a damp brush.
- Apply your lightest colors first. Paint the background, such as grass or sky, using even brush strokes.
- Layer darker shades for the trunk and branches.
- Use small circular motions for leaves, tapping the brush for texture.
- Let each layer dry before adding more details to avoid muddying the colors.
Check out a step-by-step watercolor tree example for more help.
Easy Techniques for Achieving Beautiful Results
Start with layering—paint light washes, then add details in later layers.
This adds depth.
Blending is another useful skill.
While the paint is wet, gently mix colors together for soft transitions.
If you want crisp edges, wait for one color to dry before adding another.
Try “lifting” by blotting wet paint with a paper towel to make lighter areas.
Use a dry brush to add textured details, like rough bark.
Practice these simple techniques to get a range of effects from your templates.
Printable sheets and stencils, like those in these free watercolor printables, are great for working on blending and details.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can get started with watercolor painting using printable tree templates that fit beginners and more advanced painters.
These printables are easy to access, share, and use for practicing watercolor techniques with a variety of tree designs.
How can I access these watercolor tree templates for free?
You can find free watercolor tree templates by visiting websites that offer printable art resources.
For example, 24hourfamily.com has free watercolor templates you can download and print.
Some sites may ask you to join a newsletter or create an account before downloading.
What skill level are the printable watercolor tree templates suitable for?
These watercolor tree templates work for everyone, including beginners and experienced painters.
If you’re just starting, you can use the simple outlines to practice basic painting techniques.
More advanced artists might enjoy adding their own details or trying different color blends.
Are there any tips included on how to use the watercolor tree templates effectively?
Many sites that offer printable templates share helpful tips or short instructions.
For example, you may learn to paint in light layers first and then add darker shades to create depth.
Some guides, like the one on artskills.com, give step-by-step directions for painting a tree.
Can I share the watercolor tree templates with my friends or a group I’m teaching?
Yes, you can usually share these templates for personal or educational use.
If you are teaching a class or art group, you can print enough copies for everyone.
Always check the download page or website for any special rules about sharing.
What kind of paper should I use for printing these watercolor tree templates to get the best results?
You will get better results by printing the templates on watercolor paper or thick cardstock.
Regular printer paper can be too thin and may buckle when wet.
Choose a paper weight that can handle water without tearing, usually around 140 lb (300 gsm) or thicker.
Is there a variety of tree designs included in these free watercolor templates?
Yes, you will find lots of tree designs, including simple outlines and more detailed images.
Some sites offer different types of trees, like oaks, evergreens, and seasonal trees.
You can pick the design that fits your painting style or try several for more practice, as seen with the variety of tree templates on easypeasyandfun.com.
Grab the Free Printable Tree Watercolor Templates HERE (below👇🏻)!
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or log in with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page, and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
Love These Watercolor Templates? Get Even More Exclusive Creative Goodies in the Artsydee Creation Watercolor Club! 🎨
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