Painting with watercolours can be a fun, mindful, and relaxing creative outlet for those who enjoy arts and crafts, whether it’s on a canvas, clay creation, or something else. It doesn’t matter if you’re picking up a brush for the first time or revisiting the hobby after a couple of years; our expert Harris guide full of tips, tricks, and recommendations will teach you how to paint with watercolours like a pro in no time.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics, from setting up your workspace and buying the right equipment, to mastering simple brush techniques, and show you how Harris’ Seriously Good range of specially-designed artist brushes can help you to achieve fantastic results. So, for those looking to perfect their strokes and create the ultimate watercolour masterpiece, read on - we’ll have you painting with watercolours like a mini-Picasso in no time!
Before you begin painting with watercolour, make sure you have the right tools for the job. You’ll need:
Watercolour paints (pans or tubes).
Watercolour paper, for best results. This should ideally be 300 gsm (grams per square metre) or heavier, as the thicker the paper, the better it will hold up against liquid-heavy watercolour paints that can tear or bleed through thinner canvases.
Clean water in a jug or glass that you don’t mind getting dirty.
A plate or mixing palette to hold your paint swatches (spare tupperware also works well for this as a budget-friendly option!)
High-quality artist’s paintbrushes, like our Harris Seriously Good Artist Paint Brushes 11 Pack or 10 pack (these are designed for detailed work and ultra-fine control, making them perfect for painting).
As a heritage paintbrush and home decorating brand, we know exactly what our customers want and need out of a great brush - and have designed our artist’s range with detail, control, and comfort in mind. Each Harris brush features FSC®-certified wooden handles and durable synthetic bristles, giving them a comfortable grip and making them suitable for all paint types (including watercolour), with a wide range of sizes (from 2–12mm) allowing you to switch easily between precision painting and broader strokes.
Painting with watercolours is a fun creative outlet, but can also be a little messy if you’re not properly prepped. Choose a clean, flat surface with plenty of light (artificial or natural) and two jars of water nearby - one for rinsing your brush and the other for clean water to mix with your paints. If you’re using new brushes, rinse and rub the bristles gently before starting to remove any residual dust particles.
The quality of your materials can make a real difference to your final product, and we recommend investing in high-quality watercolour paper in particular to ensure the best results - a 100% cotton or 50% cotton blend will absorb watercolour paints the best, and paper 300gsm and above is best for beginners and those still learning how to paint with watercolours. Reliable, high-quality brushes like the Harris Seriously Good artist range ensure that your brushwork feels controlled and even, helping you to focus on technique rather than materials as you paint.
Although painting with watercolours is straightforward for the most part, you may be unfamiliar with how watercolour-specific techniques differ from those used with acrylic, gouache, or oil paints, especially as watercolour involves (as the name suggests) using much more water than other types of paints. Some of the basic techniques used when painting with watercolours include:
Washes: Wet your paper slightly, then apply a diluted watercolour pigment for a soft, translucent background.
Layering or glazing: Once one layer dries, paint over it to build depth and dimension.
Dry brushing: Use less water and lightly drag your brush across the paper for a textured effect.
Blending: Use a damp (not totally wet) brush to blend colours gently and achieve a smooth transition.
Start simple with a few foundation techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry brushing, as these will help you to understand how pigment and water interact with the paper. When covering larger areas, use a bigger brush to avoid streaks and uneven washes - a soft, mop-style brush works well for this. Fine-tipped brushes from the Harris Seriously Good artist range make precision details much easier to control and perfect, allowing for delicate blending and detailing without losing pigment clarity.
If you’re just starting to learn how to paint with watercolours, begin with simple subjects like leaves, flowers, or sky gradients. Experiment with how much water you add; painting with watercolours is all about balance, and different styles, colour combinations, and brush techniques can all affect how your picture looks. Take time to learn how different pressures and angles affect your marks, and remember - watercolour often changes slightly as it dries, so be patient and let your work settle before making any adjustments.
You don’t need a huge collection of brushes to get started; one or two well-made brushes can achieve a surprising variety of strokes. The Harris brushes’ specially-engineered synthetic bristles hold the perfect amount of paint, giving you consistent flow and even coverage. But, most importantly, be creative, express yourself, and have fun!
Once you’re finished painting with watercolours, remove any excess product from your brushes. If you’ve used water-based paints, you can wash them in warm soapy water until clean, and if you ever use oil-based or chalk paints for mixed-media projects, clean your Harris brushes with a specialised cleaner like white spirit as per manufacturer instructions. Allow your brushes to dry naturally with the head flat to preserve their shape - don’t leave them to soak in water, no matter how stubborn the paint residue may be! This can cause bristle loss and damage over time, meaning you’ll need to replace your brushes sooner than usual.
Don’t worry about perfection - learning how to paint with watercolours is all about enjoying the process! The more you paint, the more control you’ll gain over pigment, water flow, and brushwork. Using dependable tools like Harris Seriously Good brushes will help you focus on creativity rather than getting frustrated with fine lines and detailing not turning out correct, ensuring that your materials are working with you.
Learning how to paint with watercolours is a fun and relaxing creative outlet that requires a blend of patience, practice, and the right tools. With the Harris Seriously Good range of artist brushes, you’ll have dependable, high-quality brushes designed for precision and comfort that will accompany you on every step of your newfound creative journey.
