Looking to dive into the world of watercolor painting but not sure where to start? Scenery paintings are a great way to build your skills while creating beautiful and satisfying artwork. Whether you’re capturing peaceful landscapes or dreamy skies, watercolor’s soft flow and vibrant hues are perfect for bringing nature to life on paper. In this guide, we’ll explore 20 easy scenery painting ideas that are ideal for beginners — and most importantly, fun to create!
All artwork provided is original and can be used as a reference for your own drawings.
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Why Watercolor Scenery is Great for Beginners
Watercolor is a wonderfully forgiving medium, especially when painting natural scenes. Here’s why it’s such a great starting point:
- Blending Happens Naturally: Watercolors are designed to flow and blend, making it easier to create smooth skies, gentle hills, and flowing rivers.
- No Need for Perfection: In nature, imperfections add character. This takes the pressure off and encourages creativity.
- Limited Supplies Needed: You only need a few brushes, a basic palette, and watercolor paper to get started.
- Relaxing and Meditative: The process itself is soothing — a wonderful creative escape.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before you begin, make sure you have the basics:
- Watercolor paints (a student-grade set is perfect to begin with)
- Watercolor paper (preferably 300gsm for less buckling)
- A few brushes in different sizes (round and flat brushes work well)
- A water jar, paper towel, and a palette or plate for mixing
Optional: masking tape to keep your edges clean and a pencil for sketching your outline.
Tips for Painting Scenery with Watercolors
Here are a few helpful tips to keep your painting sessions smooth and enjoyable:
1. Work Light to Dark
Start with the lightest washes first and layer gradually. It’s easier to darken an area than to lift out pigment if it’s too dark.
2. Embrace Wet-on-Wet
Try wetting your paper first before applying color. This technique is great for painting skies, sunsets, and soft clouds.
3. Keep It Loose
Don’t stress about the small details. Focus on the overall impression — a distant tree doesn’t need every leaf, just a soft shape and shadow.
4. Use Reference Photos
Looking at nature photos or going outside can inspire your color choices and composition.
20 Beginner-Friendly Watercolor Scenery Ideas
Here are some painting ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
Peaceful Mountain Landscape at Sunset
Misty Forest with Soft Trees
Calm Lake with Reflections
Rolling Hills and Open Fields
Golden Wheat Field Under Blue Skies
Simple Beach Scene with Waves and Sand
Country Road Leading into the Horizon
Night Sky with Stars and Silhouetted Trees
Lavender Fields with a Distant Barn
Sunset Over the Ocean
Cherry Blossom Trees in Spring
Rainy City Street from a Distance
Desert Dunes and Pale Blue Sky
Lonely Cabin in the Woods
Tropical Island with Palm Trees
Snowy Forest Path with Bare Trees
Lighthouse by a Rocky Coastline
Rolling Fog over a Hillside
Garden Path with Flowers and Shrubs
Autumn Forest with Falling Leaves
Each of these ideas can be painted with simple washes and gentle brush strokes — no fancy techniques needed!
Watercolor scenery painting is a wonderful journey for any beginner. With just a few tools and some patience, you can create beautiful works of art that reflect your love of nature and creativity. Remember to enjoy the process and don’t worry about perfection — every brushstroke is a step toward improvement. So grab your brushes and start painting your favorite scene today!
