Watercolor has always been a medium that intrigues me. It’s unpredictable, a little tricky to control when you’re a beginner, and, more often than not, I tend to lean toward a more realistic approach when I paint or draw. I take my time with the tiny details, striving for precision and accuracy in my work. If you’ve followed my watercolor journey, you know that I’m not one to rush. I want my pieces to feel lifelike.

While I was away this past weekend, I suddenly feel the urge to paint. Good thing that I have my watercolor travel set with me. But since I only have one brush, I thought it’s my chance to step out of my comfort zone and try something new—the loose watercolor technique. It’s the complete opposite of what I’m used to. Instead of focusing on small details, loose watercolor is about simplicity, flow, and, most importantly, having fun with the process. The easiest start? Flowers, of course!

I created these three floral pieces as a practice.

The first piece is vibrant with warm yellow petals standing tall and proud. That’s it, quick and simple. But honestly, I was not able to capture the soft, rounded edges I am imagining.

For the second piece, I went with these bright red blossoms. They’re supposed to be pink but I guess I didn’t use enough water. The petals also are a bit off. I struggled so much with controlling the brush and paint, forgetting that the point of this exercise is “losing control.”

This one was particularly fun to create! I started with a wash of yellow background. Then I used dotting technique to create the lavender flowers. The purple contrasts beautifully with the pale, almost faded background.

As someone who usually takes their time and loves working on the finer details, switching to a loose watercolor technique was both a challenge and a breath of fresh air. It was freeing to “almost” not worry so much about perfection. I would definitely make more pieces like these—focusing on the beauty in the spontaneity. The result? A newfound appreciation for the joy that can come from simply letting go.

How about you, what do you think of these artworks and technique? Let me know in the comments.