Easy pastel watercolor painting 🫶✨

I remember when I first started dabbling in watercolor, I was always drawn to those ethereal, soft-toned paintings that looked almost dreamlike. It felt intimidating at first, but I discovered that creating beautiful pastel watercolor art with gentle, blended hues is much more accessible than it seems! If you're looking to try your hand at this, let me share some of the techniques and little secrets I've picked up along the way, especially for achieving those gorgeous soft tones. First off, getting the right materials makes a huge difference. You don't need to break the bank, but good quality watercolor paper is a must. I always look for paper with a bit of texture – it really helps the pigments sit and blend beautifully, and you can see that lovely texture of the watercolor paper come through in the finished piece, especially in the sky sections. As for paints, a decent student-grade pastel watercolor set is perfect to start. You'll also want a couple of soft, round brushes and a flat brush, plus plenty of clean water. The secret to those soft, blended colors lies mostly in a technique called 'wet-on-wet.' This is where you apply clean water to a section of your paper first, then drop your pigment into that wet area. The colors spread and mingle on their own, creating seamless transitions. For my soft, blended skies, I always start by wetting the entire sky area evenly. Then, I gently drop in small amounts of pale pink, a hint of lavender purple, a touch of soft yellow, and a tiny bit of sky blue. Watching them bloom and mix on the wet paper is truly magical! Don't overwork it; let the water do its job. Layering is another key technique, especially when you want to create depth, like for those layered mountains. Instead of trying to get the perfect color in one go, build it up gradually. For the mountains in my recent piece, I started with a very light wash of gray for the background peaks. Once that layer was completely dry, I added a slightly darker wash of dark gray for the next set of mountains, and then finally a touch of brown tones for the closest ones. The trick is to ensure each layer is dry before adding the next, and to use diluted paint so the colors remain translucent and don't become muddy. This gives that wonderful sense of atmospheric perspective and soft, receding layers. Choosing your color palette is super important for achieving a pastel look. Think about gentle, desaturated versions of colors. Instead of a vibrant blue, go for a sky blue or a dusty indigo. For greens, opt for sage or mint. Pinks, purples, yellows, and blues are fantastic choices for dreamy skies and landscapes. Always mix a little white (or just use more water) into your colors to soften them even further. Don't be afraid to experiment with the amount of water you use. More water generally means softer, lighter washes and more blending. Less water, or a 'damp' brush, can give you slightly more control and intensity. It's all about finding that sweet spot for the effect you want. My biggest tip for anyone starting out is to embrace imperfections. Watercolor has a mind of its own sometimes, and that's part of its charm. Some of my favorite 'happy accidents' have come from just letting the water and pigment do their thing. Practice on scrap paper, try different brushstrokes, and most importantly, have fun with it! Creating something beautiful doesn't have to be hard, and with these simple pastel watercolor techniques, you'll be painting soft, serene landscapes in no time.