Easy watercolor drawing: 7 sketchbooks to get started right away!

🎨 Do you love watercolor… but a blank page intimidates you?
To create a watercolor painting, you don't need to know how to draw. Here, there are no sketches to invent or complicated rules to master. Just the pleasure of water, color, and movement.

⏱️ In 10 minutes, you can start, without intimidating materials or endless preparation. We have selected 7 pre-printed notebooks perfect for getting started right away, accompanied by a simple mini-method and mistakes to avoid to keep from getting discouraged.

Our 7 favorite notebooks for easy watercolor painting

1) Mediterranean Watercolor Travel Book (La Petite Épicerie)

🌊 Theme: nomadic watercolor + postcard feel
A notebook that smells of sunshine, colorful facades, and never-ending holidays.

👤 For whom?
Those who want an easy watercolor painting, without any preparation, even on the go.

💛 Why we love it
Because it removes all barriers. You open it, wet the paper… and you paint.
The illustration is already there, as are the materials. Zero mental load.

🎯 Level
Total beginner → relaxed confirmed

2) Japan Watercolor Travel Book (La Petite Épicerie)

🌸 Theme: creative journey & poetic illustrations
A delicate notebook, inspired by Japan, perfect for gentle painting.

👤 For whom?
Those attracted to calm, minimalist watercolor, without performance pressure.

💛 Why we love it
The scenes are delicate, airy, ideal for learning to control water and letting the white of the paper breathe. A real support for building confidence.

🎯 Level
Beginner → gentle intermediate

3) A6 Do It Yourself Notebook (Maison Joliette)

🌼 Theme: mini floral format = perfect for beginners
A discreet, cheerful notebook that removes all pressure from the first page.

👤 For whom?
Those who want an easy watercolor painting, in a mini format, without being intimidating.

💛 Why we love it
Its A6 format is reassuring. The floral illustrations are simple and well-balanced.
Ideal for testing, making mistakes, starting over… and most importantly, enjoying yourself.

🎯 Level
Beginner → serene beginner

4) A6 Floral Patterns Notebook (Maison Joliette)

🌸 Theme: soft floral, very "me time"
A notebook that invites you to slow down and savor every brushstroke.

👤 For whom?
Those seeking a calm, creative moment, without performance goals.

💛 Why we love it
The floral patterns are delicate, airy, perfect for playing with transparencies.
A true "break" notebook, to pull out when you need to unwind.

🎯 Level
Beginner → gentle intermediate

5) A6 Floral Patterns Notebook #2 (Maison Joliette)

🌷 Theme: vary flowers without getting bored
The perfect notebook if you love florals... and like to change the mood page by page.

👤 For whom?
Those who want an easy watercolor painting daily, with varied and always inspiring patterns.

💛 Why we love it
Because it rekindles desire. When you've already painted "flowers," you sometimes fear doing the same thing again...
Here, the patterns change, and so do the compositions. Result: you progress without even realizing it.

🎯 Level
Beginner → regular beginner

 

6) A6 Wild Notebook (Maison Joliette)

🦋 Theme: mini format, more "wild" energy
A notebook that breaks from classic floral, with a freer, more vibrant spirit.

👤 For whom?
Those who want watercolor drawings to make, but with a bolder vibe: nature, wild, contrasts, energy.

💛 Why we love it
Because it breaks the routine. The patterns make you want to dare more colors, more textures, more letting go.
And all of that… in an ultra-accessible A6 format.

🎯 Level
Curious beginner → gentle intermediate

 

7) A4 Petits Bonheurs Notebook (Maison Joliette)

🖼️ Theme: large format for settling in + impressive result
The notebook to pull out when you want to slow down… and see your watercolor take center stage.

👤 For whom?
Those who want to do watercolor painting, but with more space, more breath, and a very rewarding result.

💛 Why we love it
The A4 format changes everything. Colors breathe, gradients stretch, details come alive.
It's the perfect notebook for a true creative moment, without rushing.

🎯 Level
Serene beginner → intermediate

Easy watercolor drawing: why we love pre-printed notebooks

The real block: drawing (and… being afraid of messing up)

🖌️ What holds us back the most when we start watercolor isn't the color.
It's the drawing. The fear of drawing badly. Of wasting the page. Of not being "good enough."

Result: the notebook stays closed.
And the desire to create dies before it even begins.

The solution: watercolor coloring

🎨 Pre-printed notebooks remove this burden from the very first minute.
The shapes are already there. The pattern exists. All that's left is to play with water and color.

We move directly to the pleasure:

• observing,
• wetting the paper,
• letting the pigments diffuse.

No pressure. No judgment. Just the act.

How to choose a watercolor notebook when you're a beginner

Paper: the thickness that prevents disasters (and waves)

💧 In watercolor, paper is very important. Too thin paper buckles, absorbs water poorly, and quickly discourages.

• 350 gsm: ideal for Travel Books, very water tolerant
• 300 gsm textured: perfect for a gentle start, like Maison Joliette

Format: A6 for "everywhere", A4 for "real creative moment"

📓 The format influences your painting style.

• A6: easy to take out, not intimidating, perfect for 10 creative minutes
• A4: more immersive, ideal for settling down for a long time and exploring colors

"All-in-one" vs "notebook + your palette"

🎒 If you love absolute simplicity, the Travel Books from La Petite Epicerie are unbeatable.
Everything is included:

• color palette
• brush
• notebook
• step-by-step video to get started.

Conversely, notebooks alone offer more freedom if you already have your favorite colors.

 

3 super simple techniques for a stunning result

You don't need to know a thousand techniques to achieve a successful watercolor drawing.
These three gestures are more than enough to obtain a soft, luminous, and very rewarding result.

💡 If you're new to watercolor, discover our complete guide to getting started with watercolor at home.

Technique 1: 2-color gradient (easy + satisfying)

🎨 This is the ideal technique to start with.
Choose two similar colors (light blue / dark blue, pink / coral, green / yellow).

• Lightly wet the area.
• Apply the lighter color.
• Add the second color while the paper is still damp.

The pigments blend on their own.
The result is immediate… and often magical ✨

Technique 2: light wash + details with a fine brush

🖌️ Once the background is dry, add some details.

• A subtle outline,
• a leaf vein,
• a small accent of color.

No need to overdo it.
A few strokes are enough to add depth and relief.

Technique 3: "leaving whites" (immediate luminous effect)

💡 In watercolor, the white of the paper is precious.
It brings light, breath, and elegance.

Resist the urge to fill everything in.
Leave blank areas… and let the illustration breathe.

Mistakes that discourage… and how to avoid them

Even with the right notebook, some habits can hinder the pleasure.
Good news: they're easy to correct 🌿

Too much water, not enough patience (buckled paper)

💧 Watercolor loves water… but not excess.
An overfilled brush saturates the paper and creates waves.

👉 Tip: lightly wipe your brush on a cloth before painting.

Wanting to finish everything at once

⏳ Finishing an entire page is not a goal. It's often what exhausts and discourages.

It's better to have:

• a small, successful area,
• than a page finished in frustration.

Choosing too complicated a palette

🎨 Too many colors = too many decisions.
And too many decisions tire out the desire to create.

Two or three well-chosen shades are more than enough for a successful and harmonious watercolor.

FAQ:

To do a watercolor drawing, do you need to know how to draw?

No. Pre-printed notebooks are designed for watercolor coloring, not drawing. The shapes are already there. You only focus on the water, colors, and the pleasure of the gesture.

What paper weight should you choose for a beginner in watercolor?

A paper of 300 g minimum is ideal for beginners. It absorbs water better and limits buckling. Travel Books even use 350 g, which is very forgiving and reassuring for the first pages.

Can felt-tip pens or pencils be used in these notebooks?

Yes. Colored pencils and watercolor pencils work very well.
Just avoid alcohol markers, which bleed through the paper and are not suitable for watercolor.

How to avoid halos in watercolor?

Use less water and avoid going over an area that is still wet.
One pass, then let it dry. Patience is often the best technique.

What brush is sufficient for beginners?

A medium-sized round brush (no. 6 or no. 8) is sufficient for almost everything.
No need for a complete collection: a good versatile brush is more than enough.