Introduction
Once your big shapes are established, watercolour is about supporting the structure, not decorating it. In this exercise, I show how to add watercolour to a big-shapes outline while keeping clarity, value, and simplicity intact.
Video coming soon — this lesson will include a full walkthrough once final edits are complete.
Tips video:
2–5 minutes
solves one problem
stands alone
What you’ll need
Big shapes line drawing
Limited watercolour palette
Round brush
Watercolour paper
Step-by-step
Step 1: Reinforce the big shapes, not the lines
Paint shapes, not outlines.
Step 2: Establish light and mid values first
Leave darks for later.
Step 3: Let edges do the work
Soft vs hard edges create depth without detail.
Step 4: Stop before refinement
Preserve energy and clarity.
4 steps is ideal here.
Common mistake (1 short paragraph)
- Painting inside lines like colouring-in
- Adding darks too early
- Chasing detail instead of structure
Where to go next
The next stage introduces tone and depth using brush pens, which builds naturally on this watercolour foundation. You can explore that approach in my: Art Courses
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