Inside: how to use watercolors in art journaling and how to make art journal page backgrounds with watercolors.
I was always kind of scared to use watercolos because I don't know how to draw. All the amazing creations I saw online with beautiful watercolor images really discouraged me from trying because there was no way I could make these art journal pages. I was so wrong! Watercolors are so easy to use! I just couldn't believe it!
You can do it too! Just follow the steps in this video tutorial and start making amazing art journaling pages using watercolors!
WHY USE WATERCOLORS IN ART JOURNALING
That's a good question! If watercolors are so difficult to use then why bother?
- Watercolors is a very forgiving medium - when you use watercolors for backgrounds, for covering the page or for coloring abstract shapes this medium is very forgiving. You don't need to be accurate or follow a specific method - just upload a wet brush with some watercolors and spread them on the page.
- No special skills required - YES...you read correctly - you don't need to have previous experience, skills or know special techniques to use watercolors in art journaling!
- Different look - watercolors gives an artjournal page a unique look you can't get with other materials or paints.
- Watercolors are easy to use - once you change the thinking that you need to know how to draw and embrace a different frame of mind you'll see that watercolors are in fact very easy to use! By using them for background, painting and abstract shapes you basically eliminate all the rules - and without strict drawing rules... everything becomes very easy!
- Inexpensive material - before you jump and say that watercolors are expensive - you're right. The quality watercolors are expensive but the great thing is for art journaling you can use the less expensive even the student grade watercolors.
ART JOURNALING WITH WATERCOLORS IDEAS
You can use watercolors in art journaling in so many ways! Here are a few ideas:
- Draw squares with different colors and then doodle or write on the squares.
- Doodle abstract shapes or simple shapes like circles and paint them with watercolors.
- Create watercolor backgrounds in 4 different ways that are so easy to make. Check out how to make them HERE
- Draw random lines and shape and then add watercolors between them.
- Use watercolors in new ways like HERE
HOW TO USE WATERCOLORS IN ART JOURNALING
- I started with doodling on the page with a black pen. It's very important that you use a permanent waterproof pen that will not smear or bleed when you use the water colors. You don't need to know how to draw. I certainly don't! I just scribbled and doodled on the page like a two year old. What you need to create are shapes and spaces to color later with the watercolors. The shapes don't have to be accurate or symmetrical, they have to be fun and creative. Draw flowers, circles, abstract shapes with no definite name to them or even straight lines if it's more in your comfort zone. Just as long as you have enough spaces on your page to color.
2. Then comes the fun part. The drawing doesn't look like much until you start adding color. Go in with your water brush and start coloring the shapes and spaces. Change colors and consistencies so you'll get different transparency degrees of the paint. The black pen lines will be visible through the paint so don't worry about coloring inside the lines. The point is to have a colorful creation so play and mix the colors and create spots and areas of different colors. When the color is dry you can go back with the black pen and add more details like dots, lines and words. I added a quote too, just to give the page a little more meaning.
Remember that art journaling is a personal journey so you have to create the page in a way that feels comfortable to you and gives your imagination a place to play. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, draw new shapes or use water colors for the first time. I promise it'll be lots of fun creating this watercolor art journal page!
If you want to learn more about watercolors in art journaling you can check out the Watercolor Art Journaling class. You can get it for FREE if you click on the pink button that says Start Free Trial. By clicking that button you get a free week when you can take as many classes as you want.
START YOUR WATERCOLORS IN ART JOURNALING CLASS NOW
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Have fun creating!
10 comments on “HOW TO USE WATERCOLORS IN ART JOURNALING”
To use watercolors don’t you need watercolor paper? A regular art journal doesn’t seem fit for it. And gesso (i put on the pages to hold my acrylic paint) won’t suit watercolors either…
Can you tell how you do it or do you only use watercolor journals?
Any thick paper will work for watercolors. If your art journal pages are too thin attach two together to make them thicker. I sometimes do watercolors directly on regular single art journal pages and it works great. You need to get a good art journal with thick papers like Dylusions. You can also make your own DIY art journal from thick papers. I have done all of the above!
I use a multimedia sketchbook and it works great. It’s comparable to hard pressed paper because it’s smooth and not bumpy like cold press. And multimedia is less expensive and is made for wet paints.
Thank you for the inspiration! I think it looks like a fun little beach scene. ❤️
I loved your video and the final product! So pretty!
Thanks!
You can also paint a lot of random shapes in different colors, making sure they are varied. Let it all dry and then use your black waterproof pen and outline the shapes. Serendipity!
This looks so fun! I guess a thicker paper would be required. I usually end up thickening my thinner pages with collage, so I’ll need to make sure I use watercolor or mixed media paper.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I have always been scared to water color. Thank you for making it so simple. What kind of permanent marker do you use?
I like Posca