Are you looking for a new hobby that's not only relaxing but can also teach you valuable life skills? Look no further than watercolor painting! Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience with art, watercolor is a fantastic hobby to help you grow your confidence both in art and in life.

In this watercolor article, we'll explore three essential life skills that you can develop through your watercolor journey. You’ll learn how watercolor is more than just a creative outlet – it's a pathway to living a more joyful and intentional life.

Let’s dive in and talk about the three surprising skills that painting with watercolor can teach us.

Patience

Watercolor painting takes time. As a beginner, it takes time to learn brushstroke techniques, color mixing, and other foundational skills. As you advance, you’ll learn that watercolor painting (especially realistic painting) takes some serious patience. Now wait - before you turn and run for the hills, I should tell you that I am not a very patient person. While learning the skills to paint requires some patience with yourself and the process, the actual act of painting can be quick, loose, and fun. 

Go into your painting process with a calm mindset knowing that it’ll take time  to build your skills and your paintings. After all, I bet you started watercolor painting because you were looking for a fun and relaxing hobby. Keyword: relaxing! 

Making art is supposed to be a joyful experience, so slow down, enjoy the process, and know that this takes time. Other artists aren’t magically painting faster than you. We are all taking our time to create our best work possible. We all started as beginners, and we’re all on our own unique journeys.

Letting Go of Perfection

Let’s face it, watercolors have a mind of their own. The way pigments bloom and spread on paper can be unpredictable. This can be super frustrating for watercolor beginners, but when you take a step back, it’s actually a great lesson in embracing uncertainty and letting go of rigid control. 

As you practice, you’ll find that you become more comfortable with the ebb and flow of watercolor painting. Eventually those little imperfections and blends can be the thing that gives your piece unique character and charm. 

As artists, it’s so easy to fall into the feeling that our work is never good enough. But the beauty of watercolor is that it will gently guide you towards letting go of some of that perfectionism. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still strive for precision and detail in my realistic watercolor paintings, but I don’t beat myself up if a certain petal doesn't turn out exactly the way I planned. Letting go of constantly comparing myself and striving for perfection was an absolute game-changer for me. And the best part? It spread to other areas of my life outside of painting! 

It takes practice, but letting go of perfectionism will have an enormous impact on your overall artistic journey. 

Here is how I encourage other Recovering Perfectionists: redefine what success looks like. If you are hoping to paint a perfect painting every time you sit down, you’ll be disappointed! If you sit down and hope to learn something, you will always succeed. Learn about your supplies, color mixing, composition, flowers, and the process itself and you will always be growing.

Growth & Creativity

Painting with watercolor is a lifelong learning process. Even as a professional watercolor artist and watercolor educator, I’m still learning new things.Whether you paint with watercolor as a hobby or as your career, it’s a fantastic tool for developing a growth mindset. 

I love to look back at my paintings from when I first started to see how far I’ve come. I’m always amazed at how much growth can happen when you are consistent over months and years of practice. The funniest thing happens when I look back at some of my first paintings, too. I’m filled with so much kindness and grace towards my past beginner self. That version of Alex was brave and creative and didn’t let impatience or perfectionism stop her from learning and growing.

Even if you’re still in the beginning stages of your watercolor journey, I hope you feel encouraged knowing that painting is a learned skill. With enough practice, you’ll start to see your growth over time. 

Watercolor is not reserved for those who are “naturally talented.” Anyone can learn to paint, and paint well, it just takes time and a willingness to try

Watercolor is also a great tool for staying connected to your creativity. As adults, we sometimes lose the sense of play and exploration we had as children. Painting is a great way to reconnect with your inner child as you push paint around and watch it work its magic. 

As you become accustomed to slowing down your watercolor painting practice, you may find yourself applying this same mindful approach to other areas of your life. Developing patience and a positive, growth-oriented mindset is a valuable skill that can reduce stress, help with decision making, and keep your mind sharp.

I’m so grateful that I found watercolor when I did. Watercolor became a lifeline during a hard season for me. There was something about the process that was healing and peaceful in a way that changed my life.

My hope as a teacher is to spread the joy and peace that watercolor can bring to as many people as possible. I have lots of free watercolor resources to help you along your journey (YouTube tutorials, Blog tutorials, and a free Watercolor Facebook Group). 

You can also check out my watercolor membership, The Garden Studio, for an in-depth learning experience.

Happy painting,

Alex