Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Want more control and confidence with your watercolor brush? Try this 👇
Brushstroke exercises are one of the simplest and most effective ways to build control, confidence, and flow with watercolor.
They’re especially helpful if you’re just getting started, coming back after a break, or breaking in new brushes.🖌️
For these drills, grab a medium-sized round brush. Somewhere between a size 6 and 16 works beautifully.
Here are a few of my go-to exercises:
• Thin lines
Lightly touch just the tip of your brush to the paper and aim for a consistent line from start to finish. If the line breaks or looks dry, you likely need a bit more water or paint on your brush.
• Thick lines
Press down the belly of the brush and keep your pressure steady to maintain an even width.
• Thick to thin lines
Press, lift, press, lift. This one builds serious control. As you lift, keep at least the tip of the brush touching the paper so the line stays connected.
• C-strokes
Start with a thicker base, curve, and slowly lift to create a thin, tapered tail. Try these in different directions to challenge your coordination.
• Flicking
Begin thick, then flick outward or upward to create a fine tip. This is incredibly useful for grasses and organic textures.
• Bouncing
Use a gentle stamping motion with the full brush to create leaf-like shapes. With a round brush, this works especially well.
• Play + explore
Scribble, bounce, rotate your brush, vary pressure. Let go of control and allow abstract, irregular shapes to form. These marks are perfect for distant plants and textures.
These drills might look simple, but done regularly, they make a huge difference in how confident and intentional your brushwork feels.
🚩Save this for your next warm-up session!
#watercolorforbeginners #watercolor_painting_tutorial
Want more control and confidence with your watercolor brush? Try this 👇
Brushstroke exercises are one of the simplest and most effective ways to build control, confidence, and flow with watercolor.
They’re especially helpful if you’re just getting started, coming back after a break, or breaking in new brushes.🖌️
For these drills, grab a medium-sized round brush. Somewhere between a size 6 and 16 works beautifully.
Here are a few of my go-to exercises:
• Thin lines
Lightly touch just the tip of your brush to the paper and aim for a consistent line from start to finish. If the line breaks or looks dry, you likely need a bit more water or paint on your brush.
• Thick lines
Press down the belly of the brush and keep your pressure steady to maintain an even width.
• Thick to thin lines
Press, lift, press, lift. This one builds serious control. As you lift, keep at least the tip of the brush touching the paper so the line stays connected.
• C-strokes
Start with a thicker base, curve, and slowly lift to create a thin, tapered tail. Try these in different directions to challenge your coordination.
• Flicking
Begin thick, then flick outward or upward to create a fine tip. This is incredibly useful for grasses and organic textures.
• Bouncing
Use a gentle stamping motion with the full brush to create leaf-like shapes. With a round brush, this works especially well.
• Play + explore
Scribble, bounce, rotate your brush, vary pressure. Let go of control and allow abstract, irregular shapes to form. These marks are perfect for distant plants and textures.
These drills might look simple, but done regularly, they make a huge difference in how confident and intentional your brushwork feels.
🚩Save this for your next warm-up session!
#watercolorforbeginners #watercolor_painting_tutorial
