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Fun summer art activity: Watercolor Ombre Postcards

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Fun summer art activity: Watercolor Ombre Postcards

Watercolor ombre postcards

Summer is a great time to have fun with small postcards and watercolor. Here these watercolor ombre postcards are painted with one color and multiple layers to get an ombre effect.

This is an easy painting activity and you can try it with your kids. You won’t need much supplies and watercolor paint is easy to wash off:)

supplies watercolor brushes and markers

To make 4 Watercolor Ombre Postcards, you will need:

  • Watercolor paint in your color of choice, I used a mix of pyrrol red and Phtalocyanine blue, red shade by Graham watercolors
  • Watercolor paper cut to postcard size or ready to paint watercolor postcards
  • Masking fluid if you want to try the one with the white or orange outline, Iused the Fineline Masquepen.
  • Markers
  • Pencil, eraser, brushes

 Here is how you can paint the Watercolor Ombre postcards

Start by mixing the color you want to use

Start by mixing the color you want to use, here I just added a bit of blue to a bright red for a bluish pink shade.

Add water to your mix so you get a rather light wash. You don't want it too dark as you are going to paint many layers.

Add water to your mix so you get a rather light wash. You don’t want it too dark as you are going to paint many layers.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Yarka St. Petersburg Professional Watercolor Pans

Same palette of traditional colors the great masters used a century ago. Liquid-poured means semi-moist pans respond instantly to a wet brush. 24 pans in plastic case. Also individual pans. – Master Set

Draw the outline of your design, you can use pencil,

Draw the outline of your design, you can use graphite

you can use colored pencils to draw the outline of the flowers

Or colored pencil.

drawing simple concentric circles with colored pencils

I did draw 3 peonies and a simple concentric circles design.

Paint your first wash all over the card with a light to medium wash.

Paint your first wash all over the card with a light to medium wash.

Let it dry, then paint your second wash everywhere except on the most outside row of petals .

Let it dry, then paint your second wash everywhere except on the most outside row of petals .

watercolor postcard
make your own postcards
draw with a marker on top of flower

Then you can add designs of your choice.Here I just outlines the petals with markers.

On this one I added some lines to give more dimension to the flower.

watercolor ombre postcard diy

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

Pigma Micron pens are acid-free and archival, making them ideal for any application requiring precision and permanance. Pigma ink is derived from a single pigment to ensure color consistency, and is fadeproof against sunlight or UV light. – Set of 6, Black

drawing with marker on top of watercolor

And on the one with circle I added some designs that were a bit more elaborated.

elaborate ink patterns for flower
make your own postcards

Variation with masking fluid

applying a thin line of masking fluid

Instead of just drawing the outline of your design, you can apply a thin line of masking fluid on top before painting.

painting a wash over masking fluid

As previously, layer washes starting by the outside of the flower and making your way towards the center

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

 

Daler-Rowney Masking Fluid

This fluid is used to create striking white highlights or to mask areas for overpainting at a later stage. It forms a fast-drying, water-resistant film on watercolor paper and board, and is easily removed when dry.

once dry, remove the masking fluid

Let dry and remove the masking fluid

flower watercolor painting with masking fluid

You can leave the design as it is,

adding patterns around the masking fluid

or add designs with a marker.

marker ti fill out white masking fluid space

and color the white outline.

make your own postcards fun summer art activity

I would love to see your ombre watercolor creations! Feel free to post pictures in the comments.

5/5 - (4 votes)

Comments (16)

  1. stefran44955400

    Great tutorial. Thank you.

    1. Thanks Stefran 🙂

  2. […] You might also like: Fun summer art activity: Watercolor Ombre Postcards […]

  3. Véronique Emerand

    Nice technique very well explained, thanks!

    1. Thanks Véronique, I am glad you liked this post 🙂

  4. Saundra

    I love watercolor with fine black markers…your cards are beautiful and your tutorial was good….so I am going to give it a go! Right now all I seem to do is copy other peoples work, not confident in my originality yet….but I try to paint a little everyday….where is my muse???

    1. Thanks Saundra, I think you are on the right track if you try to paint and draw everyday, if you keep going you muse will find you 🙂

  5. Tracy Evans

    Lovely technique, I love using drawing gum for same idea. Love your flower. Tracy x

    1. Thanks Tracy!

  6. elenor

    Thanks for sharing this great picture tutorial. You made it look so easy so I might give it a try. Of course I know only practice will make it looking as nice as yours.
    Kind regards from the EU.

    1. Thanks Elenor !
      Let me know how your postcards will turn out 🙂

  7. Diane Getson Olive

    Great tutorial! Looks like fun with very few supplies and lots of creativity.

    1. Thanks Diane 🙂 Feel free to share pictures here if you try them.

    2. Sandrine Pelissier

      Thanks Diane!

  8. Diane O

    These are wonderful! Thank you for the tutorial. I love the combo of watercolor wash and ink. Your embellishments really make these special. Beautiful!

    1. Thanks Diane!

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