The Best Watercolor Tutorials For Beginners in 2025
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Watercolor For Beginners
Learning watercolor is one of the most exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) journeys you can take as an artist. It's exactly why I launched my YouTube channel five years ago—to help make the process easier, more accessible, and a lot more fun. And today, it's truly never been easier to dive into watercolor painting, even if you've never picked up a brush before!
While there’s an ocean of resources out there, I want to save you some time. In this post, I’ll share key tips to kickstart your watercolor journey and highlight some of the best watercolor tutorials for beginners that you can dive into right away.
Find a Teacher or Artist Who Resonates With You
One of the most important steps as you start? Finding a watercolor artist or teacher whose style truly clicks with you. Whether you lean towards traditional landscapes or modern, playful styles, there's a teacher out there for you.
YouTube remains one of the best places to find watercolor tutorials for beginners, offering a huge range of lessons from basic techniques to more advanced skills. (Fun fact: I’ve uploaded over 250 videos myself!)
It's also great fun and inspiring to chat with like-minded people who are also starting their watercolor journey. You can join our "Beginner Watercolor Tutorials" Facebook group here, where I give additional tips, artists share their work, and generally chat all things watercolor.
If you think my style might be a fit, I’d be honored to welcome you into my community. And either way, congratulations on taking your first step into the creative world of watercolor! Keep an open mind, stay curious, and remember: even after a decade of painting, I’m still learning new things every day.
Learn Watercolor with a Teacher Who Offers Something for Everyone
With over 35 years of experience painting and teaching watercolor, my goal is to create tutorials that meet you wherever you are in your artistic journey. Whether you’re dreaming of painting peaceful landscapes, capturing vibrant wildlife, or simply getting comfortable with your brushes, you’ll find something here for you.
Below, I’m sharing some of my favorite completely free beginner watercolor tutorials — each designed to help you build skills, boost your confidence, and discover the joy of painting. No matter your style or experience level, there's a tutorial to help you grow and have fun along the way!
The Best Watercolor Tutorials for Beginners
Ready to jump in? Here’s a curated list of free tutorials to help you start strong:
🎨 How to Paint Your First Watercolor Landscape
Watch on YouTube ➔
New to painting landscapes? This tutorial breaks it down into simple, beginner-friendly steps, helping you build confidence while creating a beautiful first piece.
❄️ How to Paint a Winter Watercolor Landscape
Watch on YouTube ➔
Perfect for cooler seasons, this video teaches you how to paint a soft, snowy landscape scene. Great for practicing wet-on-wet techniques and subtle color blending!
⏱️ Easy 5-Minute Watercolor Tutorial
Watch on YouTube ➔
Short on time? This quick tutorial shows how much you can accomplish in just five minutes. Perfect for squeezing in daily practice without feeling overwhelmed.
🖌️ Essential Watercolor Tips to Improve Your Painting
Watch on YouTube ➔
Want to level up faster? This video shares core tips that every beginner should know — from brush handling to common watercolor mistakes and how to fix them.
Don’t Just Watch — Pick Up Your Paintbrush!
While watching watercolor tutorials for beginners is incredibly helpful, don’t fall into the trap of just consuming content. True growth comes from practice.
Every artist — no matter how experienced — had to start somewhere. The key? Balancing learning with action.
3 Final Tips as You Begin Your Watercolor Journey
1. Practice Regularly:
Set aside even 10 minutes a day. Consistency builds skill faster than you think.
2. Experiment Bravely:
Try different brushes, techniques (like wet-on-wet or dry brush), and styles. Play, explore, and have fun!
3. Embrace Mistakes:
Every blotch or "oops" moment is an opportunity to learn. Give yourself permission to be a beginner — it’s part of the magic.
Want to see the tools I use and recommend for watercolor painting? Check out my full list [here]!
Now go grab your brushes — and let’s make some art. 🎨