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Cool and Easy Things to Draw Cool and Easy Things to Paint With Watercolor

When I was a beginner painter, I discovered that coming up with easy watercolor ideas can be tricky. So I have made a list of  7 good things to paint - just for you.

These are all easy painting ideas that are sure to put a spring in your brush and get you inspired, but I am saving the best (my personal favourite) for last.

Ah yes, there are so many things that we can use to trip ourselves up when we are getting started with painting. Overthinking is a terrific procrastination tool. But let's eliminate one hurdle by giving you a few easy painting subject ideas to start with.

I think all of these are good things to paint because they are simple enough to not be too intimidating but are still interesting enough to make lovely paintings.

If I am honest, the range of things that you could paint, even as a beginner, is endless. I think that is part of why it is hard to choose and it's why I forced myself to stick to only 7.

Just pick the first thing that jumps out at you from this list and go with that. Getting started with the actual painting is more important than what you choose to paint.

Fruit and Vegetables

I think it is nice to start off with something that has a rather simple shape. And for complete beginners, my preference is that the simple shape is not too uniform and symmetrical. I highly recommend fruit and vegetables as an easy painting subject.

They are bright bold colours, lovely and glossy and very forgiving. If your pear painting ends up a little lopsided or your capsicum has an extra bump on it - who's to say that is not the way nature actually produced it? In fact, I love that extra touch of personality.

If painting fruit sounds like your kind of thing and you would like some step by step video lessons, references and a downloadable pdf I have just the tutorial for you… how about these juicy cherries?

Watercolour-Tutorial-Cherries.jpg

Fancy 4 of these tutorials for the price of 3? The Cherries Tutorial is part of a great value course bundle called The Watercolour Tutorial Starter Bundle - click here to find out more.If you feel a bit more confident having more of a structured line to work with, here's another idea that a beginner painter often finds reassuring.

Try an ink and wash technique. Start with a pencil drawing. Go over that with a waterproof pen and then splash in the juicy watercolour - what fun!

Click the image to see more from the Kitchen Comforts series

Click the image to see more from the Kitchen Comforts series

Flowers

In the same sort of area I think flowers make lovely painting subjects. Especially if you want to have a  bit more of a go at the drawing part.

easy watercolour painting ideas flower

Again, flowers aren't perfect. Well - they are, but not in a man made precision kind of way. Some petals are slightly faded by the sun, some have been chomped by bugs. So you can relax and let your drawing turn out however it is going to.

If detailed drawing is not your thing, have a go at flowers in vases. Keep it loose and have some fun.

watercolour painting of loose flowers in vase

Click on the image to see the rest of the series of Vases of Flowers

Did you want a real-time video tutorial for flowers in a vase?

Here you go..

Watercolour-Tutorial-Hydrangeas.jpg

watercolour illustration of potted plant in fun decorated pot

Click on the image to see the rest of the series called 'Plants in Pots'

loose watercolour painting of a bird

easy watercolor ideas for beginners

I had so much fun painting my rooster series that I created a step by step painting project tutorial for beginners. So even if you have never painted before and/or think you can't draw, this easy project has got you covered!

Rooster-Easy-Painting-Project.jpg

Little Critters

Apart from birds there are other reasonably simple shapes in the animal kingdom that make easy painting subjects.

Bunnies, guinea pigs and mice for example. You can see the rest of my series of little critters here.

Psst.. by the way.. Are you wishing you had some done for you line drawings that you could get started painting straight away?

I've got some for you, including this little mouse. They are in a free booklet and you can grab yours here.

easy watercolor ideas for beginners good things to paint

Watercolour-Tutorial-Tree-Frog.jpg

Simple landscapes

If the whole idea of painting an animal is still a bit scary consider a landscape. A few wavy lines and organic shapes is all it takes to suggest mountains and shrubbery.

Watercolour painting of a landscape and sunset

Hot air Balloons

I have saved my all time favourite beginners painting subject till last. Hot air balloons. Bright joyful colour in a delightful (and easy to draw) shape. I love painting them on their own, or combining them with my previous painting idea (landscapes).

I think of that as a landscape with extra interest. Or is that a hot air balloon with a glorious background….

watercolour painting of hot air balloons over landscape

I love this painting subject so much I created a whole course for watercolour beginners around it.

Better-Beginnings-Watercolour-Beginner-Course.jpg

Not only does this course teach you step by step how to paint hot air balloons, it also includes the critical piece of information about watercolour painting that most beginners are missing. Click on the button above to check it out.

Are you on your own painting journey?

One of these might be useful…

Keep on reading…

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Source: https://www.kerriewoodhouse.com/blog/easy-watercolor-ideas-for-beginners