Summer has a strange way of making you want to loosen up, doesn’t it? Less structure, more spontaneity. That’s exactly what makes it the perfect season to play with watercolor — a medium that loves freedom.
Whether you’re painting under a fan with cold lemonade in hand or journaling your trip to the hills, these 16 watercolor techniques will add something fresh, fun, and surprisingly effective to your summer workflow. And yes — I’ve tested every single one. Some were happy accidents. Some were born from sheer frustration. But all are worth trying.
Let’s get into it.
1. Salt & Sunshine
Ever tried sprinkling salt over a still-wet wash? It’s like magic. The salt pulls pigment toward itself, creating beautiful crystal-like blooms.
Hot Tip: Try it on sunset skies or beach backgrounds. Fine sea salt gives more delicate texture than table salt.
Personal Take: I once used this on a jellyfish painting. The salt created such a natural, organic look — it literally looked like bubbles rising in the sea.
Also see: 15 Easy Summer Canvas Painting Ideas (You Can’t Resist)
2. Ice Cube Drips
This one’s summer-exclusive. Load a bit of watercolor onto an ice cube, place it on your paper, and just watch. As it melts, it leaves soft, unpredictable trails of color.
Perfect for abstract art or background textures.
Why it works: The slow melt allows time-based blending that’s hard to recreate with a brush.
3. Lemon Resist Technique
Brush some lemon juice on your paper (like invisible ink), let it dry, then paint over it. The acid reacts subtly and repels the pigment. It doesn’t create a stark white like masking fluid, but more of a gentle “ghost” effect.
Use it for: hidden messages, sun rays, or vintage labels.
4. Loose Botanical Impressions
Summer florals deserve some looseness. Instead of tight outlines, just let your brush dab in petal-like strokes. Think suggestion, not precision.
Quick Story: I taught this in a summer workshop. One student was so obsessed with symmetry — until she painted a hibiscus this way. She called it “flower therapy.” It stuck.
5. Puddle Blending (a.k.a. Controlled Chaos)
Create puddles of different colors close to each other and let them meet naturally. The water does the blending for you. No overthinking. Just sit back.
Try it with: tropical ocean gradients — teal into cobalt into ultramarine. Gorgeous.
6. Wet-on-Wet with a Fan (yes, really)
Do your usual wet-on-wet wash, then switch on a table fan at low speed from the side. It pushes the pigment in unexpected directions and creates windy effects — great for fields, clouds, or dynamic skies.
Insider Note: Don’t overdo it. Too much air = patchy mess.
7. Citrus Stamping
Slice an orange or lemon, pat it dry, dip it in watercolor, and stamp it on the paper. The texture is insanely cool — very organic, and totally summery.
Works great in: art journals, food illustrations, or pattern design.
8. Two-Brush Method
Use one wet brush to lay down clean water, and a second loaded with pigment to drop in color. You can create super soft, glowing shapes this way.
Bonus: Try making beach pebbles or soft-focus florals. The results are dreamy.
9. Plastic Wrap Texture
Paint a watery wash, lay a crinkled plastic wrap on top, and leave it to dry completely. When you peel it off, you get stunning vein-like patterns.
Use it for: coral reefs, geodes, or wild summer skies.
My Tip: Don’t use cling wrap. Use something a bit stiff — sandwich bags work better.
10. Sun Printing (yes, actual sunlight)
Paint a background wash, then immediately place leaves, lace, or stencils over it and leave it under the sun. As it dries, the blocked areas remain darker, creating a print.
Feels a bit like: summer science class for grown-ups. But with better results.
11. Spray Bottle Splatters
Load a mini spray bottle with diluted watercolor and mist your paper lightly. You’ll get a beautiful, soft splatter. Go for this when your painting feels too “flat” or too neat.
Best for: adding chaos to florals, finishing touches, or just making a background more alive.
12. Negative Painting Layers
Instead of painting objects, paint around them. This technique involves building shapes by painting darker areas in layers. It’s like carving out shapes from light.
Start simple: Leaves or shells work great. Each layer deepens the contrast.
Why I Love It: It’s slow, mindful, and very addictive once you get the hang of it.
13. Summer Fog Wash
Use a super diluted gray or blue over a dry scene to “fog” it a little — think early morning lake, monsoon mood, or moody beach day.
Insider Trick: Add a tiny drop of white gouache if your colors are too transparent.
14. Color-Lift with a Tissue
While your wash is still damp, press a tissue lightly to lift pigment and create clouds or highlights.
Use it for: sky scenes, glass textures, or just to rescue an over-painted spot.
15. Backruns on Purpose
Usually, backruns (those weird cauliflower blooms) are a mistake. But you can use them intentionally by adding a juicy drop of water onto a semi-dry wash.
Why? It creates natural-looking textures — think coral, peeling paint, or stormy skies.
16. Sketchless Stories
Try painting without pencil outlines. Just go in with a brush, light to dark. Let mistakes happen.
Personal Insight: I did this during a road trip when I forgot my pencil kit. It was frustrating at first… then kind of liberating. I ended up with my favorite sketchbook spread from that trip.
Bonus: Some Tools I Swear By in Summer
- Mini spray bottle (life-saver for reviving dry paints)
- Portable watercolor palette (I use the ArtToolkit Pocket Palette)
- Toned paper sketchbook (for white or metallic watercolor accents)
- Silicone brush tip (for lifting and scraping cool textures)
Wrapping Up (but not cleaning up)
Watercolor is messy, moody, and full of surprises — kind of like summer itself. You don’t need perfection. You need curiosity, a few paper towels, and a bit of space to experiment.
And hey, don’t try all 16 techniques in one go. Pick three that feel fun. Play. Let the colors misbehave. That’s how you grow.
If any of these sparked your imagination — even just one — I’d call that a summer well painted.
Which one are you trying first? Or do you have your own wild summer trick?
Tell me — I love a good paint story.