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

🎨 You love watercolor… but the blank page is blocking you?
To create a watercolor painting , you don't need to know how to draw. There are no sketches to invent or complicated rules to master. Just the pleasure of water, color, and the brushstroke.

⏱️ In just 10 minutes , you can get started, without intimidating materials or endless preparation. We've selected 7 pre-printed notebooks perfect for getting started right away, along with a simple mini-method and common mistakes to avoid so you don't get discouraged.

Our 7 favorite sketchbooks for easy watercolor drawing

1) Travel Book Aquarelle Méditerranée (La Petite Épicerie)

🌊 Theme : Nomadic watercolor + postcard style
A notebook that smells of sunshine, colorful facades, and holidays that last.

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

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

🎯 Level
Complete beginner → Relaxed expert

2) Travel Book Watercolor Japan (La Petite Épicerie)

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

👤 For whom?
People attracted to a calm, minimalist watercolor style, without pressure to produce a specific result.

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

🎯 Level
Beginner → gentle intermediate

3) A6 Do It Yourself Notebook (Joliette House)

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

👤 For whom?
For those who want an easy watercolor drawing , in 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 above all, having fun.

🎯 Level
Beginner → confident beginner

4) A6 Notebook with Floral Patterns (Joliette House)

🌸 Theme : soft floral, very “me time”
A sketchbook that invites you to slow down and savor each brushstroke.

👤 For whom?
People 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 “pause” notebook, to take out when you need to breathe.

🎯 Level
Beginner → gentle intermediate

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

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

👤 For whom?
For those who want an easy everyday watercolor drawing , with varied and always inspiring patterns.

💛 Why we love it
Because it rekindles the desire. When you've already done "flowers," you're sometimes afraid to do the same thing again…
Here, the patterns change, and so do the compositions. As a result, you progress without even realizing it.

🎯 Level
Beginner → Regular beginner

6) A6 Wild Notebook (Joliette House)

🦋 Theme : mini format, more “wild” energy
A notebook that breaks away from the classic floral style, with a freer, more vibrant spirit.

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

💛 Why we love it
Because it breaks the routine. The patterns inspire you to dare to use more colors, more textures, more freedom.
And all this... in an ultra-accessible A6 format.

🎯 Level
Curious beginner → gentle intermediate

7) A4 Notebook Little Joys (Joliette House)

🖼️ Theme : large format for sitting down + wow factor
The sketchbook to take out when you want to slow down… and see your watercolor take up all the space.

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

💛 Why we love it
The A4 format changes everything. Colors have room to breathe, gradients stretch, and details come to life.
This is the perfect notebook for a truly creative moment, without rushing.

🎯 Level
Beginner at ease → Intermediate

Easy watercolor drawing: why we love pre-printed sketchbooks

The real obstacle: drawing (and… being afraid of failing)

🖌️ What holds us back the most when we start watercolor painting is not the color.
It's the drawing. The fear of drawing badly. Of ruining the page. Of not being "talented enough".

Result: the notebook remains closed.
And the desire to create dies before it has even begun.

The solution: color with watercolors

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

Let's get straight to the fun part:

• observe,
• wet the paper,
• allow the pigments to diffuse.

No pressure. No judgment. Just the gesture.

How to choose a watercolor sketchbook when you're starting out

Paper: the thickness that prevents disasters (and waves)

💧 In watercolor painting, the paper is very important. Paper that is too thin warps, doesn't absorb water well, and quickly becomes discouraging.

• 350 g/m² : ideal for travel books, very water-resistant
• 300 g/m² textured : perfect for a gentle start, like at Maison Joliette

Format: A6 for “anywhere”, A4 for “a truly creative moment”

📓 The format influences your painting style.

• A6 : easy to print, unobtrusive, perfect for 10 minutes of creativity
• A4 : more enveloping, ideal for sitting 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
• Video to get started step by step.

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

3 ultra-simple techniques for a stunning result

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

💡 If you are a beginner, check out our complete guide to starting watercolor painting at home.

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

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

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

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 discreet outline
• a leaf vein,
• a small touch of color.

There's no need to overdo it.
A few strokes are enough to give depth and relief.

Technique 3: “Leaving white spaces” (immediate lighting effect)

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

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

Discouraging mistakes…and how to avoid them

Even with the right notebook, certain habits can hinder the enjoyment.
Good news: they're easy to fix 🌿

Too much water, not enough patience (wrinkled paper)

💧 Watercolor loves water… but not too much.
An overly loaded brush soaks 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 the goal. It's often what exhausts and discourages.

Better to:

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

Choosing a palette that's too complicated

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

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

FAQ:

Do you need to know how to draw to create a watercolor drawing?

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

What paper weight should I choose for beginner watercolor painting?

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

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

Yes. Colored pencils and watercolor pencils work very well.
Simply 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.
Apply only one coat, then let it dry. Patience is often the best technique.

Which brush is sufficient to start with?

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