This landscape painting tutorial will teach you how to create a beautiful mountain landscape in watercolor painting.
This landscape painting tutorial will teach you how to create a beautiful mountain landscape in watercolor painting.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Watercolor painting landscape for beginners:

Are you a beginner artist eager to dip your brush into the captivating world of watercolor landscape painting? Don’t fret! In this article, we’ll embark on a colorful journey to explore the wonders of watercolor painting of landscapes.

As a fellow art enthusiast, I understand the excitement and challenges of starting on this creative path. Together, we’ll unlock essential techniques, tips, and personal anecdotes to help you master the art of watercolor landscape painting. So, let’s grab our paints, unfold our canvases, and immerse ourselves in nature’s palette!

A Serene Beginning: Embracing the Magic of Watercolors

As a novice artist, I was initially hesitant to experiment with watercolors. However, once I dipped my brush into the vibrant hues and witnessed the translucent magic unfold, I was hooked! Watercolors possess a unique quality, allowing colors to blend seamlessly, creating a breathtaking fusion of pigments.

Beginner Tip: Embrace the fluidity of watercolors and let go of perfectionism. Allow the paint to dance on your paper and don’t be afraid to let happy accidents shape your landscape.

The Right Tools: Assembling Your Watercolor Arsenal

Before we delve into painting landscapes, let’s gather the essential tools needed for our artistic adventure.

  1. Watercolor Paints: Invest in a basic set of watercolors featuring primary and secondary colors. Gradually, you can expand your collection to explore a wider range of shades.
  2. Brushes: Choose a variety of brushes, including round, flat, and detail brushes. These will give you versatility in your strokes, from broad washes to intricate details.
  3. Watercolor Paper: Use quality watercolor paper with a rough or cold-pressed texture. It will absorb water effectively, allowing colors to flow smoothly.
  4. Palette: A mixing palette, either a traditional one or a simple white ceramic dish, is essential for blending and experimenting with colors.
  5. Water Container: Keep a cup or jar of clean water nearby for rinsing your brushes.

Watercolor painting supplies you’ll need:

Watercolor Paint Set, Ohuhu 24 Water Paints Colors (12ml, 0.42oz) Art Watercolors Painting Water-Color Paints Kit for Landscape Portrait on Canvas, Watercolor Pad, Students, Beginners Gift for Christmas

$14.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

Watercolour Landscapes for the Absolute Beginner (ABSOLUTE BEGINNER ART)

$19.95
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

Wilderness Watercolor Landscapes: 30 Eye-Catching Scenes Anyone Can Master

$9.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

cupmod Moon Paint by Number for Adults Beginners,Landscape DIY Acrylic Oil Painting by Number On Canvas Without Frame,Watercolor Paint by Number for Home Wall Decor 16x20inch

$6.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

ARTMYRUI Paint by Numbers,Landscape Paint by Numbers for Adults Beginner,Easy Plant Paint Acrylic Watercolor Paint by Number,DIY Oil Painting for Home Wall Decor Gifts (6 Pack 8x12inch).

$21.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

A Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Painting: Step-by-Step Lessons for Portraits, Landscapes and Still Lifes (Includes 16 Practice Postcards)

$19.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

Lyellfe 6 Pack Paint by Numbers, DIY Landscape Paint by Number Kits with Painting Supplies, Watercolor Canvas Painting for Adult Beginner, Home Decor, 16''L x 12''W

$18.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

Crafts 4 All Watercolor Paint Set - Art Painting Kit for Artists, Students & Beginners - Great for Landscape and Portrait Paintings on Canvas (12 x 12ml), Easy to Use, 12/24 Pack with 3 Bonus Brushes

$10.99
$8.25
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Brush Painting: 35 Painting Activities from Calligraphy to Animals to Landscapes

$12.99
$11.69
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

TUMOVO DIY Paint by Numbers for Adults, Mountain Landscape with Flowers Paint by Numbers, Watercolor Paint by Number for Adults Kids Beginner, 16x20 inch Flameless Paint by Number for Adults Canvas

$6.99
Amazon.com
as of October 12, 2024 4:28 pm

Sketching the Foundation: Preparing Your Landscape

Before I begin painting, I like to sketch a rough outline of my landscape on the paper. This simple guide helps me visualize the composition and placement of elements.

Beginner Anecdote: When I first started, I sketched a charming countryside scene with a winding river. While my initial sketch looked comical, it laid the foundation for a beautiful landscape once I added colors.

Embracing Simplicity: Starting with Basic Shapes

When painting landscapes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the intricate details. Instead, focus on capturing the essence of nature with basic shapes.

Beginner Tip: Begin with a single element, such as a tree or a mountain, and use simple shapes like triangles, circles, or rectangles to form your landscape’s foundation.

Play with Pigments: Exploring Colors in Nature

Nature’s palette is vast and inspiring. Let your creativity flow by experimenting with colors that evoke the essence of the landscape you wish to paint.

When I painted my first watercolor landscape, I hesitated in using unconventional colors for trees. However, a touch of purple in the foliage added an unexpected charm to my artwork.

Harnessing the Magic of Water: Mastering Techniques

Water is the heart of watercolor painting landscapes. Learning to control the water-to-paint ratio will elevate your artwork to new heights.

  1. Wet-on-Wet: Apply water to your paper before adding paint, allowing colors to blend organically. This technique works wonders for dreamy skies and misty landscapes.
  2. Dry Brush: Use a dry brush with minimal water to create textured effects, such as tree bark or rocky surfaces.
  3. Lifting: Dab a damp brush or paper towel on your painted surface to lift off color and create highlights.

Depth and Dimension: Layering Colors

Layering colors adds depth and dimension to your watercolor landscape. Start with lighter washes and gradually build up intensity with additional layers.

Beginner Tip: Be patient as you layer the colors. Allow each layer to dry before adding the next to prevent colors from bleeding together.

Bringing Nature to Life: Adding Details

Details breathe life into your landscape, making it feel like you can step right into the painting. Using fine brushes, add delicate touches like leaves, ripples on water, or distant birds in the sky.

When I painted a serene lake, I carefully added tiny ripples to the water’s surface. The moment I added these subtle details, my landscape came alive with tranquility.

Happy Mistakes are Lessons: Embracing Imperfections

Don’t let fear of mistakes hold you back. Watercolor landscapes thrive on spontaneity, and even accidental splatters or blooming effects can contribute to the artwork’s charm.

Beginner Tip: Embrace each mistake as a learning opportunity. Instead of starting over, find creative ways to incorporate and adapt.

Video Demonstration of a Watercolor painting landscape for beginners

This landscape painting tutorial will teach you how to create a beautiful mountain landscape in watercolor painting.

This is a great painting project for beginners who want to learn how to paint landscapes. In this tutorial, we will show you how to create the basic elements of a mountain landscape in watercolor painting.

For this landscape painting tutorial, we will use a range of different watercolor paints and brushes to create the landscape.

You will need a light, neutral color to start with and we recommend using Winsor & Newton watercolors.

Watercolor painting landscape tutorial for beginners, using easy and simple painting techniques. I hope you like this easy landscape tutorial.

  1. 1. Begin by painting the sky in a light blue color. Add a few white clouds for added realism.
  2. Next, paint the valley below the mountains in a light green color. Add some trees and other plants for realism.
  3. To create the mountain itself, start by painting the peak in a dark green color. Take care to paint the peak in the right direction so that it looks mountainous.
  4. To add more realism to the mountain, paint the base of the mountain in a light brown color. Add some rocks and other natural elements for realism.
  5. To finish the mountain, paint the sides of the mountain in a light brown color. Add some clouds and other natural elements for a finishing touch.

Materials used for this watercolor painting landscape for beginners tutorial with watercolor painting:

Winsor & Newton 100% Cotton Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper Pad:
Raphael Size 7 Round Brush 8388, LUKAS 24 watercolor set: Cadmium Red, Light Peacock Blue, Lamp Black from Holbein, Turquoise from W&N Naples Yellow Red from Van Gogh, Brush used to wet paper (smallest size in the set).

I hope you guys like this watercolor painting landscape for beginners. Comment below if you guys have any requests ! 🙂

52 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this. I am just starting out in painting having been inspired by my own mountain sunsets. This video made the process easy and I look forward to painting what I see out my own windows soon.

  2. Very refreshing to see a fellow leftie painting. I am a rank beginner and seeing someone using their left hand to hold the brush and avoid getting their hand into the wet paint is helpful. And this is a nice simple tutorial that will have a nice outcome.