Skip to Content

62 Watercolor Prompts to Inspire You

Watercolor painting is a beautiful form of art. There’s something about how the paint flows that makes you feel at peace. If you’re looking for some inspiration or are a beginner and need help getting started, check out these 62 watercolor prompts! We’ve got everything from landscapes to portraits to abstract pieces. So whatever your creative heart desires, we’ve got you covered!

62 watercolor prompts

  1. Sunset over a mountain range
  2. A beach at night with waves crashing against the shoreline
  3. An old wooden door leading to a secret garden
  4. A bird’s eye view of a city at night, illuminated by streetlights and neon lights
  5. A blue sky full of clouds and fluffy cotton candy clouds
  6. A flower blossomed into an intricate pattern of color and texture
  7. A portrait of a woman with her hair falling in waves around her face and shoulders, looking down at something in her hands with a pensive expression on her face
  8. The silhouette of two people walking hand in hand under the stars on a beach at sunset
  9. A woman in the woods by her house
  10. Her favorite dish
  11. A giant rainbow-colored poodle wearing a top hat and a monocle
  12. A portrait of your favorite animal
  13. A picture that shows what happens when aliens invade Earth
  14. A picture that shows what it would be like if all animals lived together in perfect harmony (except cats)
  15. A bird in the sky
  16. A flower in bloom
  17. A butterfly on a flower
  18. A shell on the beach
  19. A tree in the forest
  20. The sun rising above the horizon
  21. A cup of coffee or tea with milk and sugar
  22. A house on a hill with a rainbow over its head
  23. A sleepy dog on the couch
  24. An autumn scene with falling leaves and pumpkins
  25. A cup of tea, cozy and warm in a broken cup
  26. A watercolor painting of a dog
  27. Sunset over the sea with a sailboat in the distance
  28. A forest scene with different kinds of trees and bushes
  29. An abstract painting consisting only of shades of red, purple and blue
  30. An abstract painting consisting only of browns and yellows (or two other colors)
  31. A piece of paper blowing in the wind
  32. A leaf from a tree in your garden
  33. An empty flower pot
  34. A window
  35. A street lamp
  36. An old chair
  37. A bird’s nest
  38. An abstract landscape with no trees or grass, just hills, and mountains.
  39. A rainy afternoon spent reading on your porch swing
  40. Your dream house
  41. Something that makes you nostalgic for the past (or an old hobby)
  42. An object you love
  43. A person who inspires you
  44. A place where you feel safe or at peace
  45. A place where you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
  46. A stack of books on a shelf
  47. Three goldfish swimming in a bowl
  48. An empty wine bottle
  49. A pile of colorful yarns on a table
  50. An open book with your favorite quote highlighted in blue marker
  51. The sky reflected in a puddle after a downpour
  52. The mail on your porch)
  53. A fireplace)
  54. A snowman
  55. A place you’d like to visit
  56. A sinking ship
  57. A small child with a dog
  58. A bird in flight, with wings spread wide
  59. A person standing in front of a lake, dropping their reflection into its depths
  60. Two people sitting on opposite sides of the same mirror, unable to see each other
  61. An artist drawing in a Paris cafe
  62. Posters for upcoming events

How to Become More Creative With Watercolors

The creative process is a journey that begins with imagination and ends with realization. Watercolor is a powerful medium for self-expression and can be used to create beautiful works of art that are both simple and complex. A lack of inspiration and creativity can be a problem, as with any other medium. Here are some tips on how you can get creative with watercolor:

Explore different techniques and styles

There are many different techniques for painting watercolor images. If you’re bored with your current work, try something new! You could try monochrome painting or explore other watercolor techniques to get fresh inspiration.

Experiment With Mixed Media

Combining different media can be fun! Try mixing watercolors with ink or colored pencils or combining the dry brush technique (a type of brushstroke that uses only the side of the watercolor brush) with the wet-on-wet technique (where the colors are applied while they’re still wet). With these two techniques, you can create beautiful textures in your images.

Try a Different Watercolor Brush

Brushes are key to great watercolor paintings but can also easily be overlooked. The right brush can make the difference between a successful painting and one that doesn’t work.

Most importantly, you use a brush with soft, fine bristles. This gives you more control over the paint and allows you to paint fine lines or soft washes with just a few strokes. Watercolor brushes come in many sizes, from small detail brushes to large brushes that allow you to cover large areas on the paper quickly. You can use any size you like – just keep in mind that larger brushes cover more area, while smaller brushes give you more precision and control over smaller areas of paint (think of it like using a spray can for an airbrush).

Change Your Paper

Watercolor paper comes in many different sizes, thicknesses, and textures. The size of your paper will depend on the size of your painting – it’s best to choose a sheet about half the size you want your painting to end up. If you’re unsure which paper is best for you, you should look for a rough or smooth surface paper. A rough surface will give you more grip for the wet paint, while a smooth surface will make it easier to paint fine details on your picture.

Use Several Colors at Once

Use complementary colors (colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel). Complementary colors naturally go together and therefore look great in a watercolor painting. For example, red and green or blue and orange look great together because they’re opposite on the color wheel. You can also combine any two colors next to each other on the wheel (for example, blue-green and yellow-orange). This creates a more subtle effect than true complementary colors but still gives your image a special effect.

Change Your Style

Change your style: if you usually paint landscapes, try portraits or vice versa. Do something different from what you normally do. This will help you get out of a rut and give you new ideas for future paintings. You can also try changing the scale of your image. For example, if you usually paint on a small scale, try something larger, like a mural or canvas painting. If you’re stuck for color, you could also try different art styles, such as abstract watercolor paintings or portraits in black and white.

Learn a New Medium

Sometimes it can help you to try something different, such as acrylic paint on new art materials (eg, canvas) and then watercolor paint again.

Attend Art Lessons or Workshop

The best way to learn about watercolor painting is to attend a class or workshop near you at an art store or gallery. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet other artists and maybe even make friends, but you can also improve your watercolor skills, ask questions, and get feedback from an expert.

Study the Masters!

You can learn a lot from the masters, from techniques to where they found their inspiration. See how they make their works look so realistic or abstract. You can also research their work online or buy books about them.

Related Articles

World Watercolor Month

Basic color theory