How to Practise Watercolour in Just One Hour (A Simple Step-by-Step Routine)

Mar 1
3 min read

If you’ve ever wondered how to practise watercolour when time is limited, this simple tutorial will help.

Many people tell me the same thing: “I’d love to improve my watercolour… but I only ever seem to have an hour.”

The good news is this: one hour is more than enough to develop your watercolour skills — if you approach it with structure.

Instead of wondering what to paint, or drifting between ideas, a simple routine allows you to practise with clarity and confidence. If you’re completely new to watercolour, you may also find it helpful to read my guide on the basic materials you need to get going in watercolour: How to Get Started in Watercolour

Below is a complete, decision-free 60-minute watercolour practice you can follow today.

A Simple 60-Minute Watercolour Practice Routine

This exercise focuses on painting a single leaf — because working small builds skill faster than working big.

What You’ll Need

Watercolour paper (cold pressed works well)
Pencil
Sap Green (your base colour)
Cadmium Yellow Pale (to lighten)
Ultramarine Blue (to deepen and neutralise)
One medium round brush, for example size 10
Water + tissue

That’s it.

Step 1: Set Up and Warm Up

Clear a small space. Make a cup of tea.Choose one leaf (real, from a photo, or draw a simple shape).

Keep it uncomplicated. If you’re unsure how to warm up, I share five simple watercolour warm-up techniques here.

5 Basic Watercolour Techniques to Use as Warm-Ups

Step 2: Light Drawing and The First Wash

Sketch a simple leaf outline.

Add:

A central vein
A few side veins

Avoid detail. This is practice, not a finished piece.

Now wet the leaf shape with clean water.

Mix Sap Green with a touch of Yellow to create a light, fresh green.

Drop the colour into the damp shape and allow it to move naturally.

Then stop and let the water do the work. Tip the paper so the paint can run slightly.

This stage develops water control — one of the most important watercolour skills.

Step 3: Mid Tones

Now mix a slightly stronger Sap Green (less water, more pigment).

Paint the shadow side of the leaf.

Keep some edges soft. Let colour blend gently into the first wash. You are painting wet into damp here.

Spatter a bit of paint over the whole of your sheet by tapping the brush lightly. This will create a bit of extra textural interest.

Step 4: Play

While you are waiting for your first wash to dry, take another small piece of paper.

Wet this completely.

Drop in the 3 colours you are using one at a time and tip the paper to see how the paint runs and blends together. Explore how spattering in more colour with your brush effects the paint.

Play with your 3 colours. Once dry, you can add some leaf shapes.

Step 5: Dark Accents

To create natural darker greens, mix Sap Green with a touch of Ultramarine Blue. This mutes the colour slightly and avoids harsh, artificial dark greens.

Return to your leaf to add a few accents with the mix of Ultramarine Blue and Sap Green:

Where the leaf meets the stem
Along part of the veins
A couple of subtle edge shadows

Resist overworking. A few dark notes create depth.

Detail - showing dark accents and texture from spattering

Step 6: Refine and Reflect

If the paper is dry, you may add a few fine vein lines and perhaps some more spatter.

Then pause.

Ask yourself:

What worked?
Was my water control consistent?
What would I do differently next time?

This final reflection is what turns painting into progress.

Why This Simple Watercolour Exercise Works

This one-hour watercolour practice routine helps you:

Improve water control
Understand tonal layering
Mix more natural greens
Develop patience
Build consistency

Small, focused studies repeated weekly will improve your skills far more than occasional long painting sessions.

If you repeat this exercise once a week, perhaps changing the subject, your confidence will grow steadily — without needing hours of spare time.

Beyond skill, regular painting also brings quiet mental space — something I explore more in this post about why painting is good for your wellbeing. Why Painting Is Good for Your Wellbeing

Developing a Consistent Watercolour Practice

If you struggle to build momentum, structure is your friend. Rather than asking:“What shall I paint?” Ask yourself:“What shall I practise?” That's a subtle shift in your approach.

And if you’d like support as you build a steady, confident watercolour practice, you’re very welcome to paint with me. Explore my upcoming workshops, retreats and new painting sessions here. Paint with me.