15–20 minute beginner watercolor exercise

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 Let’s do a 15–20 minute beginner watercolor exercise that hits all the basics—washes, blending, layering, and lifting.

Mini Exercise: Sunset Over Water

Materials

  • Watercolor paper (any small sheet is fine)

  • Watercolor paints (reds, oranges, yellows, blues)

  • 1–2 brushes (round and/or flat)

  • Water cup

  • Paper towel or tissue

  • Palette

Step 1: Light Pencil Sketch (Optional)

  • Lightly draw a horizon line across the paper.

  • Optional: sketch a simple shape like a small island or tree silhouette.

Step 2: Wet the Sky

  • Using clean water, wet the sky area above the horizon.

  • While still wet, apply yellow near the horizon, then orange, then red toward the top.

  • Let the colors blend softly (wet-on-wet).

Step 3: Paint the Water

  • Wet the area below the horizon.

  • Reflect the sky colors in the water using horizontal strokes.

  • Add a little blue at the bottom for depth

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