🌞 Quick 5-Minute Watercolor Warm-Ups

1. Gradient Strips

Paint small strips blending from dark to light with a single color. Try:

• Ultramarine blue

• Burnt sienna

• Quinacridone rose

Focus on smooth transitions without back runs.

2. Loose Color Splotches

Drop in wet blobs of color randomly. Let them bleed into each other. Observe:

• How pigments mix

• Edges between wet-on-wet and dry

This is a no-pressure way to explore your paints’ behaviors.

3. Simple Leaf Shapes

Use a round brush to paint quick leaf silhouettes. Vary:

• Pressure for thick or thin lines

• Greens mixed with yellows or blues

These make great warm-ups for botanical painting sessions.

4. Value Studies

Choose one object nearby (a mug, fruit, or plant). Paint it with only one pigment, focusing on light and shadow. This strengthens:

• Observation skills

• Understanding of value over color

5. Texture Swatches

Try five techniques on one page:

• Salt

• Dry brush

• Splatter

• Plastic wrap

• Lifting with tissue

Each takes seconds and refreshes your knowledge of effects.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let summer heat stop your creativity. Short watercolor warm-ups keep your skills sharp without draining your energy. Plus, these mini exercises often spark new ideas for future paintings.