Printing with watercolours
- iprintedthat
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
Print an autumnal wreath.
When my friend sent me a reel demonstrating a simple but extremely effective watercolour printing technique with the caption, “This is right up your street!” I knew I had to give it a go.
And the results were so great, I knew I had to share it with you too.
JUMP TO INSTRUCTIONS>> or scroll down for the video tutorials
It’s a wonderfully accessible project - no fancy kit required, just some watercolours, a drinking glass and a few cotton buds. It’s ideal for a cosy afternoon art activity. And whatever time of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), whatever botanical elements you decide to add (blossom, lavender, wheat, holly berries), you’ll end up with a beautifully seasonal piece to frame or turn into a card.
PS In case you’re wondering, the watercolour artist who inspired this tutorial is Anna Koliadych. I always say “credit where credit’s due.”
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VIDEO TUTORIALS
Prefer your tutorials in video format?
I did this technique on a livestream, which you can WATCH HERE
You will need:
• Watercolour paints. Any type - tubes, pans, or even a child’s set; watered-down acrylics work too
• A paintbrush for mixing colours
• Two cotton buds (Q-tips)
• A drinking glass
• Watercolour paper or any thick paper, card, or even lining wallpaper
How to:
1. Create the wreath base
Mix a soft mossy green by blending green with a touch of brown or yellow. Use your brush to paint this mixture onto the rim of your drinking glass.
Press the rim gently onto your paper to create a circle. Repaint the rim and print again, slightly off from the first circle so the wreath looks more organic and layered.
Let this dry before continuing.
2. Print the ears of wheat
Mix a golden ochre tone. Dip the side of a cotton bud into the paint and print small paired marks that resemble the grains of wheat - four pairs per stem, plus one single print at the top.
Print these around the wreath, both inside and outside the green circle, about nine times in total (depending on your wreath size).
Leave to dry.
3. Add red berry clusters
Mix a pinky-red or brick red shade. With a fresh cotton bud, print clusters of five to seven dots to suggest raspberries or blackberries.
Scatter these gently around the wreath, overlapping some of the orange and ochre areas for a natural layered effect - about twelve clusters in total works well.
Leave to dry.
4. Add orange seed clusters
Mix an autumnal orange. Using the other end of your cotton bud, dip it into the paint and use the tip to make small elongated marks - these should look like loose clusters rather than perfect shapes.
Print these around the wreath, both inside and out, roughly seven clusters in total.
Leave to dry.
5. Add fine details
Pull the cotton wool tip off one end of a used cotton bud, leaving just the stick. Dip this end into gold paint and use short, light flicks to add spindly details to the wheat.
Next, dip the stick into your green mix again and use longer, sweeping strokes to add hints of grass and stems weaving through the wreath.
Let it dry completely.
6. Finishing touches
Hold your painting at arm’s length and check the overall balance. If any areas feel sparse, add a few extra berries, wheat stalks, or wisps of green.
Once dry, you can leave it as is or lightly spatter a few tiny dots of paint for added texture.
This simple watercolour printing method is wonderfully freeing - there’s no need for precision, just rhythm and flow. Every print will be slightly different, and that’s part of the charm.
ENJOYED THIS?
Then you might like to join my mailing list HERE. You’ll automatically become a member of PRINT CLUB which means you get tutorials like this sent to your inbox each month, two complimentary online workshops each year, 30% off selected workshops, exclusive invitations to exhibition previews and studio events, plus a monthly What’s On...newsletter.
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