In this joyful art journal spread, I combined watercolor play with whimsical linework to create a rainbow-inspired bouquet of bold, patterned leaves. This project is perfect when you’re short on time but full of color-loving energy. It’s relaxing, expressive, and beginner-friendly – and the end result is so much fun!

Prep your art journal by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Mist your watercolor palette with water to activate the colors. Start by sketching a tall, central branch on your watercolor paper with a pen. From this stem, sketch large, teardrop-shaped leaves going out in both directions, keeping it playful and symmetrical. I started with 7 leaf shapes in total. They don’t have to be perfect; quirky lines are what make this whimsical. 

I pre-wet each leaf with clean water using a round watercolor brush. This allows your paint to flow and blend beautifully on the page. Then, working one leaf at a time, I dropped in vibrant rainbow shades: pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple. Let the colors mix and bloom within the wet shapes. Dry with a heat tool.

Now it’s time to define your design. Using a black Sharpie, draw another stem with leaves in front of your original one. I intentionally redrew the lines slightly offset from the original to create a layered, dimensional look.

Then the fun part: fill each leaf with bold, sketchy patterns. I used parallel lines, stripes, curves, and simple swirls to create variation. Some leaves got completely doodled in, others were left more open. You can also add extra flourishes like little spirals or dots extending from the stems. Let your creativity guide you.

To finish the piece, I loaded up my fan brush with watery paint and splattered bright yellow, teal, red, and blue around the leaves. In classic Tracy fashion, I also added five tiny Pyrolle Red hearts around the piece as a personal signature. 

Remove the painter’s tape and enjoy your artwork!

Watch the replay below!

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Supply List:

• 7 X 10 Grumbacher Watercolor Journal
• Painter’s Tape
• Watercolors: Prima The Classics
• Pen:  Sharpie Twin Tip
• Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Sets

Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!

Tracy’s Resources Page and visit Tracy’s Shop