Paint landscapes with watercolors
Paint three simple landscapes using watercolor paints, brushes, and paper; learn mixing, layering, and basic perspective while exploring color and texture.
About this activity
Paint three simple landscapes using watercolor paints, brushes, and paper; learn mixing, layering, and basic perspective while exploring color and texture.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all your materials and set them where you can reach them easily.
- 2
Step 2
Tape your watercolor paper flat to the table with masking tape so it stays smooth while you paint.
- 3
Step 3
Use your pencil to draw two light horizontal lines to divide the paper into three equal panels.
- 4
Step 4
Lightly sketch a simple horizon and rounded hill shapes in the top panel for your first landscape.
- 5
Step 5
Dampen the sky area in the top panel with clean water using a big brush.
- 6
Step 6
Apply a light blue wash to the damp sky by mixing blue paint with lots of water on your palette.
- 7
Step 7
Drop a slightly darker blue or green into the wet sky to make soft hill shapes that blend on their own.
- 8
Step 8
Lightly sketch a tree and grassy shapes in the middle panel for your second landscape.
- 9
Step 9
Paint a flat midground base in the middle panel using a medium green mixed on your palette on the dry paper.
- 10
Step 10
Wait until the midground base is completely dry before you add more paint.
- 11
Step 11
Use a smaller brush to add darker strokes and quick marks over the dry base to create texture and layers.
- 12
Step 12
Sketch a road or river that converges to the horizon in the bottom panel to show perspective.
- 13
Step 13
Paint the road or river so it is wider in the foreground and narrower toward the horizon using a mid-tone color.
- 14
Step 14
Paint the side fields with colors that get lighter and shapes that get smaller toward the horizon to show distance.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished three watercolor landscapes on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I teach my child to paint three simple watercolor landscapes step-by-step?
Start by choosing three easy themes (e.g., sunrise field, lake, and mountain). For each: sketch simple horizon and big shapes in pencil. Wet the paper for soft skies or paint wet-on-dry for crisp edges. Begin with light washes for background, let dry, then layer midtones and darker values for depth. Use smaller brushes and texture techniques (dry brush, lifting) for foreground details. Encourage pausing between layers and experimenting with color mixing.
What materials do I need to paint three watercolor landscapes with my child?
You’ll need a basic watercolor set, several round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10), thick watercolor paper (140 lb/300 gsm recommended), a palette, two water jars, masking tape, pencil and eraser, and paper towels. Optional extras: salt for texture, a sponge, masking fluid, and non-toxic liquid watercolors. Keep wet wipes nearby and cover the table for easy cleanup.
What ages is painting simple watercolor landscapes suitable for?
Painting simple watercolor landscapes works well for preschoolers (4–5) with adult help, focusing on basic washes and color play. Children 6–8 can practice mixing and layering with guidance on drying times. Ages 9+ can explore basic perspective, value shifts, and texture techniques independently. Always supervise younger kids and choose non-toxic paints and safe tools.
What are the benefits of painting watercolor landscapes for kids?
Watercolor landscapes teach color mixing, value, and layering, which build visual thinking and observation. The activity improves fine motor skills, patience, and focus while encouraging creativity and emotional expression. Experimenting with washes and textures boosts problem-solving and confidence. It’s also calming and can introduce basic art concepts like perspective and composition that transfer to other crafts and schoolwork.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have watercolor paper, masking tape, or a big brush?
Use heavyweight mixed-media or two glued-together printer sheets in place of watercolor paper for step 2, low-tack painter's tape instead of masking tape to hold the paper flat, and a clean wide flat or mop brush (or a soft house-paint brush) to dampen the sky in step 6.
My sky wash is drying with hard edges or the darker color isn't blending—what should I do?
Re-wet the sky area with clean water using the big brush before dropping a darker blue or green as instructed in step 6 so the colors blend softly, or lift hard edges with a clean damp brush or paper towel and practice timing on scrap paper.
How can I adapt this three-panel activity for younger kids or older kids?
For younger children, pre-draw the two horizontal lines and simple horizons and have them work with very diluted paint and the big brush for step 6 and the midground in step 11, while older kids can add glazing after the midground base dries, use the smaller brush for detailed texture in step 12, and refine the converging road/river perspective in the bottom panel.
How can we extend or personalize the finished landscapes before sharing them on DIY.org?
For extra texture and personalization, sprinkle table salt into the damp sky wash during step 6 for granulation, use masking fluid before painting to preserve highlights, and add colored-pencil or ink details over the dry midground base from step 12 before photographing to post on DIY.org.