I’m sharing a unique “quilted” background technique using painter’s tape and an array of watercolors! Then, we’ll add the finishing touches of delicate white and gold leaves with acrylic paint. Whether you’re new to painting or a seasoned artist looking for fresh inspiration, this tutorial promises to ignite your passion for creativity and guide you through every step of the process.

leaves on quilted watercolor background

Prep your art journal page by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. I’m also going to paint off a square of my page to work on. Mist down your watercolor palette with water. 

Add dark watercolor paint to your background, like dark blues, greens, purples, reds, and more. I will tape off each square at a time until my entire page is covered with various-sized squares of different watercolor paint. Dry each square with a heat tool as you go.

Take a ruler or something straight to add lines around each square with a permanent pen. I’ll also use my Aquarelle pencil to add some blending and shadows.

quilted watercolor background

Next, I’ll use a liner brush with Decoart Media Titanium White acrylic paint to paint on leaves and stems. I’ll use DecoArt Extreme Sheen 24K Gold acrylic paint to add texture lines to my leaves. 

Finally, I’ll take my Aquarelle pencil to create a border around the edges of my painter’s tape. Use your finger to smudge it and darken up the edges. Remove your painter’s tape and enjoy!

finished art journal page

Watch the replay below!

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