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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    Top 10 TPK Watercolor Tutorials

    January 9, 2018

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Roundup, Tutorials, Watercolor, Watercolor Tutorials

    Watercolors are an amazing medium! Versatile and beginner-friendly, you can use them to make a lot of neat projects. Here are the top 10 tutorials on the TPK website that will help you to improve your watercolor skills!

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    Top 10 TPK Watercolor Tutorials | The Postman's Knock | The Postman's Knock

    So many people are frightened to work with watercolor paint because it seems difficult to use. Give it a try, though, and you’ll see that watercolor is one of the friendliest mediums around! You can harness its power to paint intricate masterpieces or simple designs; it all depends on your personal style and skill level. Today’s post is a compilation of ten TPK watercolor tutorials that I hope will inspire you to get out your paints and experiment!

    1. Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners | The Postman's Knock

    The information-rich Painting with Watercolors for Beginners post will teach you about the supplies you need to get started. It also covers vital watercolor basic techniques like blending, contouring, and opacity control!

    2. Painting with Watercolors for Beginners: Part II

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners Part II | The Postman's Knock

    Once you’ve read the first Painting with Watercolors for Beginners post, Part II will help you advance into painting real-life objects like this apple. The post will change the way you view the subjects that you want to paint! For example, you’ll learn to see an apple as a series of of three different shapes and three different colors.

    3. Herbal Watercolor Tutorial

    Herbal Watercolor Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Herbal Watercolor Tutorial post will teach you how to make gorgeous, realistic herbal portraits! Your secret weapons? A light box and purple watercolor paint!

    4. Watercolor Initial DIY Birthday Card Tutorial 

    Watercolor Initial DIY Birthday Card Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Watercolor Initial DIY Birthday Card Tutorial doesn’t require a lot of fancy blending knowledge! Make sure you have a nice waterproof ink on hand (such as Ziller Soot Black), and you’re good to go.

    5. Woodland Watercolor Wreath Tutorials: Part I

    Woodland Watercolor Wreath Tutorials: Part I | The Postman's Knock

    Watercolor wreath borders add warmth and artistry to any paper good! You can learn how to make the wreath pictured above in Woodland Watercolor Wreath Tutorials: Part I. There’s also a Part II and Part III in the Woodland Watercolor Wreath Tutorial series!

    6. Abstract Bubbles Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial

    Abstract Bubbles Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Abstract Bubbles Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial utilizes a fun, unique watercolor and pen technique to make an artistic border. You can apply the same concept to other projects like gift tags or envelopes to make them pop!

    7. Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial

    Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Watercolor Hexagons Mail Art Tutorial is perfect for those who continue to feel intimidated by watercolors! There’s no blending or fancy skills required … in fact, if you can trace, then you can make an envelope like this one.

    8. How to Create Paintbrush Lettering + A Free Exemplar

    How to Create Paintbrush Lettering + A Free Exemplar | The Postman's Knock

    If you are more interested in writing with watercolors versus painting with them, then you’ll enjoy the How to Create Paintbrush Lettering post. Paintbrush calligraphy is very similar to dip pen calligraphy in that stroke widths are dictated by pressure exertion!

    9. Watercolor Cactus Wreath Tutorial 

    Watercolor Cactus Wreath Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The gorgeous colors used for the watercolor cactus wreath help it to stand out! You can use this southwestern-inspired wreath to frame any greeting.

    10. Citrus Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial

    Citrus Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Citrus Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial will teach you how to make a birthday card that stands apart from the rest. In defiance of traditional greetings and graphics, this card presents an elegant and subdued way to say, “Happy Birthday”!


    I hope that you enjoyed this collection of tutorials, and I encourage you to try at least one of them! I’d love to see the results on social media … you can find TPK on Facebook or tag @thepostmansknock (or #thepostmansknock) on Instagram. I hope that you are having a great start to the new year, and want to thank you very much for reading TPK!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About the author

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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173 responses

  1. Maggie Christie Avatar
    Maggie Christie
    January 12, 2018

    Thank you for these fabulous tutorials. My favourite is the watercolour initial DIY birthday card (which I have used parts of to decorate my bullet journal).

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  2. Mackenna Avatar
    Mackenna
    January 12, 2018

    I love the watercolor hexagons mail art tutorial!

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  3. Rachel Hekman Avatar
    Rachel Hekman
    January 12, 2018

    I love the Citrus Watercolor Birthday Card Tutorial!! It’s so beautiful and spring-like.

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  4. Agatha Taylor Avatar
    Agatha Taylor
    January 12, 2018

    I absolutely love the herbal watercolor tutorial! I work regularly with watercolors and also teach classes about this medium, so the idea of using the lightbox to start directly on colors instead of tracing leaf by leaf is such a time saver!
    I even sent the tutorial to some friends and students over on whatsapp <3
    But all of the wreath tutorials look lovely too, I took the time to quickly swipe trough these 🙂

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  5. Lynda De La Rosa Avatar
    Lynda De La Rosa
    January 12, 2018

    Your tutorials are my favorite, thank you for sharing so much with us!

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  6. Jean marmo Avatar
    Jean marmo
    January 12, 2018

    Love these projects! I enjoy playing with watercolors and am using this year to learn not to overwork, to let dry before doing more and to use sparingly. I tend to be heavy handed. THank you for the inspiration!

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  7. Sophia K. Avatar
    Sophia K.
    January 12, 2018

    For me the most helpful tutorial is number 3, the herbal tutorial. I always wanted to draw such leaves and plants because they are just beautiful.

    Thank you, Lindsey!

    Love from Germany
    Sophia

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  8. Ylenia Avatar
    Ylenia
    January 12, 2018

    Wonderful watercolour tutorial! Always a lot of inspirations in your post!

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  9. Andrea Goo Avatar
    Andrea Goo
    January 10, 2018

    I love having all these rounded up into one spot! 2018 is going to be a year of watercolor and calligraphy for me, once my right hand heals from a nasty dog bite into my thumb muscle…..which was entirely my own fault. 😖😖😖

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  10. Michelle Ross Avatar
    Michelle Ross
    January 10, 2018

    LB,

    I wanted to thank you for my gift certificate! What a shock. At present, I am having difficulty choosing between what I need and what I’d like…:D You are so inspiring, now I need to add watercolors to my list of considerations.
    Looking forward to 2018’s posts.

    Happy New Year!
    Michelle T.

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Sometimes, the best creative projects are the ones Sometimes, the best creative projects are the ones that don’t go exactly as planned. This tree art was made with watercolors and a straw—yes, a straw! The branches take shape as you blow paint across the page, and from there, it’s all about adding leaves and a few cheerful bluebirds. 🌿💙

This technique is relaxing, a little unpredictable, and really satisfying. I hope it gives you a gentle creative reset, especially if you’ve been deep in detail-heavy work lately. 💛

You can find the full tutorial on the blog (with video + step-by-step photos)—just search “Soothing Organic Tree Art” on thepostmansknock.com, or tap the link in bio!

#watercolortutorial #watercolorillustration #artproject #creativebreak #strawpainting #birdillustration #calligraphyandillustration #tpkstyle #slowcreativity #arttimelapse #artforkidsandadults #natureinspiredart
Something magical happens when you sit down with s Something magical happens when you sit down with someone who speaks your creative language ✨ That was definitely the case when my friend Jess of @greenleafblue joined me for a live chat with TPK Premium members! We talked about everything from watercolor quirks to sketchbooks as memory-keepers, creative balance, and the joy of going analog in a digital world.

Jess makes some of the most beautiful handmade watercolors you’ll ever find—but her real superpower might be how she talks about creativity with honesty and depth. I walked away from our conversation feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to make something. I think you will too.

🎧 You can listen to the conversation podcast-style or watch the full video—link in profile; then look for the May 13th article!

#greenleafandblueberry #watercolorpainting #sketchbookinspiration #creativelife #analogart #arttalk #artpodcast #tpkpremium #creativeprocess #makersgonnamake
Where do you go when you need a break? Where’s y Where do you go when you need a break? Where’s your “Kokomo”? 

Hernán and I haven’t been back to Lima, his birthplace (and where most of his family still lives), since early 2018. Two small kids and a pandemic later, it seemed like the right time. After returning from an 8-day stay in *stunning* Miraflores, a district in Lima, I’m feeling rejuvenated; creatively, emotionally, and physically. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a vacation, and I had forgotten how important it is to step away from everyday life for a while! 

It’s easy to put off taking a big break or a vacation when you are stuck in the minutiae of everyday life. I’m curious to hear what place motivates you to step away from the routine and get a mental reset! 

#PeruTravel #MirafloresLima #LimaThroughMyEyes #FamilyAndTravel #TravelToReconnect #CreativeReset #MentalReset #RestIsProductive #SlowTravelMoments #TakeABreak #InspiredByTravel #CreativeRecharge #MeaningfulTravel #WhereToNext #WhereDoYouGo #TravelForPerspective
Here’s a fun little trick for making personalize Here’s a fun little trick for making personalized wrapping paper: just grab a big sheet of paper and a bold marker (I used an oil-based Sharpie I had lying around). Write the recipient’s name and a greeting over and over on the diagonal—starting each new line right where the last one left off. Once you’ve filled the page, flip it over and wrap your gift. Instant charm. 🖋🎁 #giftwrapping #diywrappingpaper #handmadegiftwrap #calligraphyideas #markerlettering #easydiygiftwrap #personalizedgifts #giftwrappingidea #creativewrapping #letteringlove #moderncalligraphy #diygiftwrap #tpkstyle
One of the coolest things you can do with a pointe One of the coolest things you can do with a pointed pen isn’t write a word — it’s build a picture with nothing but flourishes. 🪶✨

This tropical parrot was such a joy to create, and TPK’s newest worksheet walks you through how to make your own version step by step. Whether you’re tracing to get a feel for the movement or freehand flourishing the final piece, it’s both relaxing and skill-building — a nice balance of creative play and pointed pen precision.

You don’t need to be a pointed pen expert to try it. Just take it stroke by stroke, give yourself permission to go slow, and enjoy the process. 🖋️

📩 DM me if you’d like the link to the worksheet! It’s free for TPK Premium members, $6 for non-members. 

#moderncalligraphy #pointedpenpractice #calligraphydrills #flourishingpractice #calligraphyart #flourishfriday #calligraphyworksheet #tpkstyle #calligraphycommunity #parrotart #calligraphyproject #dippenlove #creativepractice #flourishedartwork #beginnercalligraphy #intermediatecalligraphy #tropicalvibesinink
Yes, that’s a shoe. And yes, it’s made entirel Yes, that’s a shoe. And yes, it’s made entirely with calligraphic flourishes. 😄

If you’d enjoy using a sneaker as a calligraphy practice drill, let me know in the comments! I’m happy to make it happen. 👟✨ Suggestions for other motifs are also welcome and appreciated!

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphydrills #flourishingpractice #calligraphyfun #creativecalligraphy #flourishfriday #calligraphyvideo #tpkstyle #letteringcommunity #dippenlove #artmotif
Your first thought watching this might be: “Why Your first thought watching this might be: “Why all the fuss for an envelope?” ✉️✨

Try it yourself and you’ll see why. 😉 This kind of envelope is something I create for my own relaxation—it’s just a bonus that the recipient gets to enjoy it, too! There’s nothing better than settling in with a great podcast 🎧 or show 📺, prepping your ink 🖋️, and slowly building up a design like this one.

If your next thought is, “How would I even begin to make something like this?”—well, I’ve got you. 💛 This timelapse is pulled from a full 30-minute video lesson that walks you through the whole process, from layout to flourishes to gold details. You can find it on the TPK Blog (link in bio → “How to Make a Fabulously Flourished Calligraphy Envelope”). Have fun with it! 💌

#calligraphyvideo #flourishedenvelope #mailart #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #envelopeart #calligraphytutorial #snailmailrevolution #relaxinghobby #tpkpremium #envelopeinspo #happyhandwriting #calligraphyinspiration #goldandwhite #calligraphypractice
✨ The first step to growing creatively? Letting ✨ The first step to growing creatively? Letting go of what’s holding you back. ✨

In the latest TPK article, I’m exploring 8 common myths about calligraphy—the kinds of quiet beliefs that convince us we’re not “artsy” enough, don’t have the time, or that messy handwriting means we’re not cut out for it. 🖋 Let’s rewrite that story (literally—with pen in hand!).

Here’s your gentle permission to begin. 💌

🔗 Link in bio → Tap “8 Calligraphy Myths That Might Be Holding You Back” on the TPK Blog.

#calligraphycommunity #calligraphyinspiration #moderncalligraphy #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphymyths #brauserose #calligraphypractice #learntocalligraphy #creativeconfidence #obliquepen #greeninkmagic
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