Welcome! If you’ve ever wanted to paint beautiful, expressive fields and bushes in watercolor - but felt overwhelmed by those tiny details - this is the perfect guide for you. Based on my YouTube video tutorial, this blog post breaks down my step-by-step process for painting loose watercolors, specifically focusing on lush grass and bushy elements that bring landscapes to life. Whether you're new to watercolors or an experienced artist looking to loosen up your technique, you’ll find practical tips and encouragement to boost your creativity and confidence.

Discovering the Joy of Loose Watercolors

Loose watercolor painting is all about suggestion rather than imitation. In this tutorial, you’ll learn to let go of perfectionism and discover how suggestive brushwork and clever color play can create landscapes that are both lively and deeply personal. The goal: expressive, atmospheric results - without fussing over unnecessary realism.

Materials I Use

Paper: Indian Handmade Watercolor paper (I use "Chitrapat"), cold-pressed for lovely texture and endurance.

Watercolors: Lemon yellow, sap green, olive green, orange, Cerulean Blue, Payne's grey from Camel Artist Watercolours. Lavender from Aquatone Artist Watercolors.

Brushes: Synthetic squirrel imitation mop brushes for large, loose washes; synthetic round and rigger brushes for finishing touches.

You could use any similar brands of papers, colours & brushes that are available with you.

Step-by-Step Guide: Paint Loose Grass and Bushes

1. Prepare Your Base Wash

Begin with a light, watery wash using Lemon Yellow, Sap Green, and a touch of Orange. This sets the basic color mood for your field or grassy area.

2. Suggest Shadows for Depth

While the surface is still damp, softly introduce Olive Green and slightly darker hues. This suggested shadow area immediately starts creating volume and interest.

3. Create Uneven, Natural Texture

Grass isn’t perfect! Use thicker mixes and uneven, vertical strokes to imply tufts and bunches. Leave occasional white gaps for sparkle and movement - these will look like highlights or light catching on leaves.

4. Layer for Richness

Once your first layers are semi-dry, return to deepen shadows and accentuate contrast by adding darker green or brown. Paint short, upward/downward strokes to mimic taller grass and bushy areas.

5. Suggest More Bushes and Distant Elements

If you want a sense of space or distance, paint smaller bush shapes or tiny tufts further back, using lighter and grayer tones. This instantly adds depth to your scene. I have added a gray blue mountain to get more depth and a sense of completion of the scene.

6. Finish With Finer Details and Splash Effects

At this stage, you can do additional finishing touches if felt necessary. You may use a liner/rigger brush for occasional long blades or twigs. Feel free to add quick splashes or gentle smudges with a wet brush or sponge for extra vitality. I have just splashed some water droplets around the mountain to get some textures.

7. Top Off With a Loose Sky , Bushes & Trees (Optional)

If you feel that the work needs more elements to feel 'completed', you can add sky, some bushes and trees. Place the trees and bushes to improve the composition. Below are the images with these additional elements.

Full version of this tutorial is available as a video on my youtube channel. Watch the video here..

Bonus Tips for Mastering Loose Watercolor Landscapes

Don’t Chase Perfection: Let happy accidents happen!

Keep Your Brushes Dirty: Mix colors on the paper, not just the palette, for more depth.

Practice With splatters: Quick splatters with water droplets and some opaque/dark colors can help creating interesting textures.

Work Wet-in-Wet: This allows for gentler transitions and softer shapes.

Step Back Often: View your paper from a distance to catch the overall “feel” and composition.

Why Learn With Vanidas Mangathil?

My teaching style is open and approachable, encouraging you to enjoy the process while learning. Each tutorial is built on years of self-taught experience, and my focus is always on sharing practical ways to make watercolors less intimidating and more inspiring for everyone.

Connect, Learn, and Share

Ready to try this technique? Watch the full YouTube videos  for a real-time walkthrough - and don’t forget to subscribe for more  tutorials and demonstrations! Explore even more on my website to know more about my courses and other tutorial blogs.

YouTube: VanidasMangathilArt

Instagram: VanidasMangathil

Happy painting - and remember, every artist has a child inside who loves to play with colors!