5 Easy Summery Watercolor Tutorials for Beginners 🌞

Quick Seasonal Projects to Build Brush Control & Confidence

🏖️ “Summer afternoon — summer afternoon, to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” — Henry James

Are you feeling like summer is well on its way? I sure am — the temperature is rising, and Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer in the United States, is just around the corner!

Let’s celebrate the season with these short and simple summery watercolor tutorials. Each one is beginner-friendly, fun, and packed with practical techniques to help you build brush control, improve water flow, and gain confidence in your painting sessions.

🎨 Watercolor Inspiration for Summer

Use these tutorials as inspiration for playful seasonal watercolor sessions! Feel free to:

• Substitute your favorite paint colors

• Emphasize or omit certain details

• Paint larger or smaller than shown

You’re welcome to follow the artist’s lead — but you may also wish to make these pieces your own. Be sure to bookmark this post for creative warm-ups or quick painting sessions!

🖌️ My Story — Why These 5 Summer Tutorials Inspire Me

My favorite watercolor painting tutorials are short, packed with beginner-friendly techniques, and feature beautiful-yet-simple illustrations. And if the artist includes helpful commentary, I’m even more grateful!

I’m a self-taught watercolor artist. When I began learning six years ago, I didn’t consider myself artistic at all. What changed everything? Combining enjoyable painting sessions with easy, visual instruction helped me improve dramatically — in hours painted, yes, but also in understanding how and why watercolor techniques work.

Interestingly, I watched all five of these summery tutorials on mute — and could still follow along with ease. So even if you prefer a quiet painting session or your own favorite soundtrack, these are excellent picks.

My Tutorial Review Process: 

This post is all about 5 Summery Watercolor Projects for Beginners. Here’s the method I use to test and review each tutorial I share:

1. Watch the tutorial in full at least once

2. Gather art supplies

3. Paint along with the video

4. Track brush sizes, paper, colors, and paint time

5. Let the piece dry and revisit it with fresh eyes

6. Check it against my review criteria:

   • Video under 30 minutes

   • Beginner-appropriate

   • Clearly presented and well-paced

   • Materials listed or easily identifiable

   • Effective camera angles

   • Total paint time under 1 hour

   • Enjoyable and useful

7. If it’s a yes — I write the review!

Let’s get started!

🌞 Featured Tutorials: 5 Summery Watercolor Projects for Beginners

Screenshot from Sarah Cray’s 5-Minute Daisy Instagram video

1. Sarah Cray — 5-Minute White Daisy

📺 Watch time: 0:30 | Watch on Instagram

🖌️ Key Brushstrokes Covered:

• Straight lines

• Single strokes

• “Dab and pull” curved lines

🎯 Why It’s Great for Beginners:
Even though the video is sped up, the camera angle shows exactly how the brush is held and moved — super helpful for beginners. And once you get this little daisy down, you can also paint chrysanthemums, asters, cone flowers, and sunflowers — all part of the sunflower family!

👉 My Take:
One of the clearest, quickest watercolor flower videos I’ve come across, and such a relaxed vibe.

Screenshot from Harriet de Winton’s Summer Illustrations YouTube video

2. Harriet de Winton — Summer Watercolor Illustrations

📺 Watch time: 20:16 | Watch on YouTube

🖌️ Key Brushstrokes Covered:

• Straight lines

• Single strokes

• “Dab and pull” curved lines

• Fine detail work

🎯 Why It’s Great for Beginners:
This video includes five mini summer-themed illustrations: an ice cream cone, palm tree, hat & sunglasses, watermelon, and beach ball. Choose one or paint all five!

👉 My Take:
I love these fun and classic summer motifs. Harriet’s teaching is clear and friendly — I revisit this one often for 15–20 minute painting breaks.

Screenshot from Madeline Kerri’s Quick Lighthouse Instagram video

3. Madeline Kerri — Quick Lighthouse with Ink Details

📺 Watch time: 0:15 | Watch on Instagram

🖌️ Key Brushstrokes Covered:

• Loose variegated wash

• Single strokes

• “Dab” lines

💡 Tip:

• This artist taped off the lighthouse shape before painting the sky — smart move!

• If you don’t have masking tape or fluid, just carefully paint around your sketch.

🎯 Why It’s Great for Beginners:
A charming, compact scene that’s ideal for practicing background washes and clean brushwork. Plus, this would make a beautiful handmade card!

👉 My Take:
This one is super versatile — try painting a sunrise, dusk, or nighttime version. You can also switch the foliage to suit any season.

Screenshot from Emma Jane Lefebvre’s Watercolor Dahlia YouTube video

4. Emma Jane Lefebvre — Watercolor Dahlia for Beginners

📺 Watch time: 0:59 | Watch on YouTube

🖌️ Key Brushstrokes Covered:

• Straight lines

• “Dab” and “scrub” petals

• Double strokes

🎯 Why It’s Great for Beginners:
Super short, super easy. Perfect for warm-ups and quick floral practice.

👉 My Take:
I return to this one often. I love the simplicity and brightness of the dahlia. Once you know this form, you can paint zinnias or football mums — similar spherical shapes with many petals.

Screenshot from Archer and Olive’s 6 Ways to Paint Leaves Instagram video

5. Archer and Olive (by @miss-meissa) — 6 Ways to Paint Leaves

📺 Watch time: 0:59 | Watch on Instagram

🖌️ Key Brushstrokes Covered:

• Single strokes

• Double strokes

• Thin–thick–thin brush control

• “Dab and pull” curved lines

🎯 Why It’s Great for Beginners:
Leaves are a wonderfully satisfying way to build brush control — especially thin–thick–thin transitions and petal-like double strokes.

👉 My Take:
Sometimes I fill an entire sheet with leafy shapes! This is one of my favorite warm-up tutorials, perfect for 5–10 minute practice.

⏩ Quick Access Links: Jump to a Tutorial

1. Sarah Cray — 5-Minute White Daisy

2. Harriet de Winton — Summer Illustrations

3. Madeline Kerri — Quick Lighthouse

4. Emma Jane Lefebvre — Watercolor Dahlia

5. Archer and Olive — 6 Ways to Paint Leaves

💬 Conclusion

🎯 Key Takeaway

These quick and easy summery watercolor tutorials are a great way to build watercolor skills — even if you only have a few minutes each week. They help reinforce essential brush techniques, water control, and creative freedom.

🖌️ What to Do Next:

• Bookmark this post

• Choose 1–2 summer illustrations to paint this week

• Warm up with a quick dahlia or leafy study before your next full painting session

🔗 Recommended for You

• Simple Watercolor Spring Meadow Tutorial Review »

• Easy Watercolor Fall Cabin Tutorial Review »

• 7 Easy Watercolor Brushstroke Drills for Beginners »

🗣️ Join the Conversation!

Don’t you love how watercolor captures the feeling of each season? I find peace and inspiration in recognizing and celebrating the changing landscape — both as a watercolor artist and as a human being.

Which tutorial are you most excited to try? Or do you have a go-to seasonal painting or YouTube video you keep returning to? Share it in the comments — I’d love to check it out!

✍️ About the Author 

Written by Mary Moreno of Mary Moreno Studio, a self-taught watercolor artist since 2020 and creative blogger sharing beginner-friendly tutorials, tips, and resources to help others find joy and confidence through watercolor.