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Best Summer-Inspired Watercolor Tutorials

6/12/2025

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Looking for some fun, summer-themed watercolor tutorials that are beginner-friendly? Tired of tutorials that skip over important parts of the process or leave you more confused than when you started?


Learning how to paint with watercolor is exciting, but it can definitely feel overwhelming when you're not sure where to start or how to improve.

A lot of tutorials out there only show bits and pieces of the process, without clearly explaining the why behind key decisions. And without that insight, it’s hard to build a strong foundation or make real progress.

That’s why I’ve put together this special list of summer-inspired watercolor tutorials, each one designed to help you grow your skills while creating joyful, seasonal art. 

Whether you love painting still life, sunny landscapes, botanicals, tropical fruits, or flowers you’ll find something fun that will help you improve your skills in this collection.


And don’t worry! These are all step-by-step, fully-narrated classes where I guide you through both the techniques and the thought process behind them.

For larger viewing, click the "Watch on YouTube" icon in the bottom-left corner of each video. 

Soak up some creative sunshine, grab your supplies and let’s paint together! 



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Watercolor Popsicles Step-by-Step Tutorial

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to sketch and paint three realistic, colorful popsicles. We’ll practice foundational watercolor techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and layering to achieve vibrant, dimensional results.



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Summer Flower Bouquet Tutorial 

Let’s paint loose flowers together! In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through painting roses, lavender, tulips, coneflowers, and little wildflowers, while also sharing essential composition tips for creating beautiful, balanced floral bouquets.

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Watercolor Papaya Sketching and Painting Tutorial

In this class, I walk you through my full process for creating a simple yet vibrant papaya still life. You’ll learn how to create a successful preliminary sketch in pencil and how to bring the fruit to life with bold, expressive watercolor techniques.

Want my sketch? It's available for free at the end of this Patreon post!



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How to Paint Monstera Leaves with Watercolor

In this video, I show you how to draw a pair of monstera leaves using a reference photo. You'll learn my favorite techniques for developing depth and dimension, along with how to use masking fluid to preserve and paint delicate, light-colored leaf veins.

Want my sketch? It's available for free at the end of this Patreon post!



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Nature Scene for Beginners Watercolor Tutorial

Looking to improve your watercolor landscapes? In this full tutorial, I walk you through my entire process, from a simple pencil sketch to layering watercolor for depth, atmosphere, and detail. You'll practice essential techniques you can carry into all your future nature scenes!
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Recommended Watercolor Supplies
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Arches Cold Press 140 lb 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper 9x12"


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Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils Tin Box with 12 Grades


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Scott Shop Multi-Purpose Absorbent Towels 2 Pack

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Winsor&Newton Professional Watercolor Tubes





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Winsor&Newton Colorless Removable Masking Fluid

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Aqua Elite Watercolor Brushes Set with 4


For a full list of my current favorite supplies, go here. 


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How to Paint Believable Clouds Easily

In this tutorial, I share a simple yet effective technique for painting soft, believable clouds. It’s a versatile approach you can easily apply to your future landscapes and nature scenes to add atmosphere and depth.




This is a great drawing and painting exercise for beginners! We’ll practice essential freehand sketching techniques, along with color mixing, water control, and brush handling, all foundational skills for growing your confidence with watercolor.


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I post new videos over on my YouTube channel every Monday, so make sure to subscribe and click on the notification bell so you can get notified when new ones get posted. 

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Happy painting!

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