Letting Go Through Watercolour: A Playful Series for Creativity & Calm

In a world that tells us to do more, be perfect, and suppress our voice, watercolour offers something radically different—an invitation to do less, embrace imperfection, and just be authentically you. It flows, it moves, it resists control. And in that, it teaches us something deeper about ourselves.

That’s why I created Watercolour Tech & Play—a short and playful video series on YouTube designed to help you explore foundational watercolour techniques in a way that feels freeing, not overwhelming.

What is Watercolour?

Watercolour is a transparent painting medium made from pigment and a water-soluble binder (usually gum arabic). Unlike acrylic or oil paints, watercolour is activated by water and relies on layering and fluidity rather than thick application.

Because watercolour is lightweight and portable, it has been a favourite medium for artists, illustrators, and travellers for centuries. It’s often associated with delicate washes and soft transitions, but it can also be bold, textural, and full of surprises!

A Brief History of Watercolour

Watercolour painting has a long and rich history, dating back to prehistoric cave paintings where early humans mixed earth pigments with water.

• In ancient Egypt, water-based pigments were used in tomb paintings.

• Chinese and Japanese artists developed ink and watercolour brush techniques, influencing modern calligraphy and landscape painting.

• During the Renaissance, European artists like Albrecht Dürer used watercolour for botanical and scientific illustrations.

• By the 18th and 19th centuries, watercolour became popular with landscape painters like J.M.W. Turner, who embraced its expressive, unpredictable nature.

Read more about the History of watercolour here.

Today, watercolour remains a beloved medium for both fine art and creative exploration, offering an accessible and therapeutic way to paint, express and soothe.

Pan vs. Tube Watercolour – What’s the Difference?

If you're new to watercolour, you might be wondering whether to use pans or tubes. Each has its own benefits:

Watercolour Pans (Palettes) – These come as solid cakes of paint in a compact palette. They're great for:
- Portability & travel
- Quick setup and minimal mess
- Controlled water-to-paint ratio

Watercolour Tubes – These are soft, concentrated pigments that you squeeze out onto a palette. They're ideal for:
- Mixing larger amounts of colour
- More intense, saturated hues
- Greater flexibility with blending & layering

If you’re just starting, a pan set is often the easiest way to begin.

Why Watercolour Paper Matters

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is using regular printer or cartridge paper for watercolour. Because watercolour relies on wet washes and layering, you need paper that can handle moisture without buckling or disintegrating.

Watercolour Paper (Recommended!)
- Made from cotton or wood pulp
- Absorbs water without warping
- Comes in different textures: hot press (smooth), cold press (slightly textured), rough (very textured)

Printer or Cartridge Paper (Not Ideal, but fun to experiment with)
- Too thin—warps and curls when wet
- Paint sits on the surface instead of absorbing properly
- Can tear easily with repeated layering

So what do I buy and where do I buy it from?

Investing in watercolour paper makes a huge difference in your experience. However, when you are starting our get some inexpensive, kids or student quality. Once you’ve had a play and feel like investing, get yourself some good quality watercolour paper; you’ll appreciate the difference! One thing to avoid is buying a lot of expensive art materials then feeling like they are too precious to use; so if that is you, just start with inexpensive brands.

Where to buy: Art Supplies Australia online or Officeworks has a wide range of watercolour paper pads. Brands like Reeves, Fabriano and Canson are a cost effective and still good quality. Please avoid the temptations of buying mixed media pads. While these appear to look and feel like watercolour paper beause they are thick and textured; they do not behave the same and will warp.

*Please note I’m based in Australia.

What’s so great about Watercolour?

Watercolour is a medium that shows you yourself. When you play with it, you notice the parts of you that want to control the outcome, that rush ahead instead of being in the moment, or that shy away from play because it feels unproductive.

It’s also a gentle guide. By inviting in this sensory, captivating practice, you don’t have to force anything—you just watch, feel, and let the water move. Each and every moment, whether you like it or not, that marks and image will continue to change. This is a great activity for notice how you feel about that; meeting thoughts and feelings as they arrive and practicing non-attachment.

And if you’re creatively blocked? Returning to simple techniques—like wet-on-wet blending or playful mark-making—can bring back a sense of joy and mastery through simplicity. Sometimes, doing less is the answer.

What’s Inside the Series?

Each short video introduces a foundational technique in a way that’s quick, simple, and full of possibilities:

Inluded in this 6 Part Series:

Wet-on-Wet Magic – Let the paint flow freely and see what happens
Resist Techniques – Use wax & oil pastel to create surprising effects
Impressions – Press textures into wet paint for organic patterns
Salt Textures – Watch salt work its magic on watercolour washes
Gradients – Play with colour transitions, from subtle to bold
Mindful Mark Making – Slow down & let each line be its own meditation

Let’s get into it! Watch the full playlist below:

Watercolour Tech + Play Series: Wet-on-Wet for Dreamy Blends - Part 1

Resistant mediums with Oil Pastel & Candle wax - Part 2

Impressions with Paper & Plastic - Part 3

Salt & Watercolour: Mesmerizing Textures - Part 4

Gradient Play: Exploring Colour Transitions in Watercolour - Part 5

Mindful Mark Making: Flowing Lines in Watercolour - Part 6

BONUS Videos

Watercolour Tech Party: Bringing it all together - BONUS Video

Grid Method Activity - BONUS

Subscribe & learn!

This series isn’t just about learning techniques—it’s about trusting the process, releasing perfectionism, and rediscovering the joy of creative play.

💌 Subscribe to my YouTube channel and get these videos drip-fed to you—giving you time to explore each technique at your own pace. Whether you’re new to watercolour or just need a way to return to creativity with a fresh perspective, I hope this series gives you a little space to breathe, explore, and let go.

Oh and did I mention, it’s completely free.

About Me:

If we haven’t met, I’m Mary-Helen, a transpersonal art therapist and artist, passionate about equipping others with tools for self-expression and self-discovery. Through my work, I aim to help people tap into their creative flow, break free from perfectionism, and embrace the process of making art as a way to reconnect with themselves. Most of my artistic journey has been self-taught, and in the last couple of years, I’ve further honed my skills with a Visual Arts Diploma at TAFE, where I spent many hours exploring and experimenting with different art materials — I loved it! I contiune to strengthen my practice through my own creative practices and learning from other skilled practising artists.

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