If you’re looking for an easy watercolor flower painting idea with a soft spring palette, this resist watercolor tutorial is a beautiful project to try. In this step-by-step mixed media art journal lesson, you’ll learn how to use resist spray with watercolor to create texture, layered backgrounds, and white highlights that peek through the paint. Then you’ll finish the page with floral linework and details.This technique is perfect for beginner watercolor artists, art journal lovers, and anyone who wants to experiment with new mixed media supplies!
Prep your art journal page by taping down the edges with painter’s tape. Mist your watercolor palette to activate the colors.
Shake the Distress Resist Spray bottle side to side, then wipe the nozzle before spraying. Apply the resist directly onto your paper in random drops and light bursts. You won’t see much at first because resist spray dries clear, but once watercolor is added, those areas will repel the paint and reveal beautiful texture. Let the spray dry completely before moving to the next step.
Once the resist is dry, begin brushing watercolor over the page. Use light, flowing color and allow the paint to spread naturally. This is a great time to work with spring-inspired shades like teal, blue, soft greens, or pastel tones.
As the watercolor hits the dried resist spray, the paint will separate and create delicate white patterns in the background. This watercolor resist technique adds instant texture with very little effort. To soften the page even more, lightly mist the background with plain water. Let the paint sit for a few seconds, then gently press a towel onto the surface to lift some pigment away.
This watercolor lifting technique creates faded areas and helps expose more of the resist texture underneath. It also prevents the page from becoming too heavy or overworked. If your page needs more contrast, add a little extra teal watercolor or acrylic paint by splattering with your fan brush.
Now switch to black acrylic paint and a liner brush. Begin by painting a small flower center, then pull loose petals and playful tendrils outward. Keep the shapes natural and imperfect.
This loose floral painting style is forgiving and expressive. You do not need a steady hand or realistic drawing skills – movement and personality matter more than precision.
Continue adding floral shapes, but leave plenty of open space so the watercolor resist background remains visible. The soft texture and white speckles are an important part of the final composition.
Next, add simple leaves, stems, or trailing lines around the flowers. These loose marks create movement and help guide the eye around the page.
To brighten the page, bring in a touch of teal acrylic paint and hints of pyrrole red. Use your fan brush to splatter the color across the page.
Finish the flowers with tiny accents of Copic Opaque White. Add dots, edge highlights, or fine marks to brighten focal areas and bring the florals forward.
Carefully peel off the painter’s tape to reveal a clean border around the page. Remove slowly to avoid tearing delicate journal paper.
Sign your artwork, let it dry completely, and enjoy your finished floral watercolor journal page!
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Supply List:
- Fabriano or Grumbacher 7 X 10 Watercolor Journal
- Painter’s Tape
- Watercolors: The Classics
- Acrylic Paints: Decoart Media Carbon Black, Teal & Pyrolle Red
- Distress Resist Spray
- Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Sets
- Pentel Brush Marker
- Copic Opaque White
- Liner Brush: Micron 10/0 X Long Liner Brush
- Sealer: Dorland’s Wax
Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!
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