Simple Watercolor Tutorial - Paint This Old Barn

Dec 22, 2025

As a Midwesterner, there is something about old barns that inspire me. No doubt it is connected to the time spent as a little boy exploring my grandparents' farm, finding treasures in their old barn and traversing what felt like a vast landscape around the farm structures and equipment.

I encourage you to trust whims of inspiration like this. Don't question the subjects you're inspired by. Instead get curious about them. Follow them.

But first, follow along with me as I paint this scene to learn my 3-step watercolor painting process.

My Complete Watercolor Process - Paint Along With Me

I get the question a lot about how to best use my tutorials. The answer is that everyone will use them differently, and it depends on what you need. But I suggest you watch it once just to note my process. Then, when you have a little more time, watch the video as you paint the same scene I am. Put the lesson to practice right away. Finally, take the techniques you learn here into your next painting, using this video as a reference if you need further clarification.

What Supplies Am I Using for This Scene?

I use a variety of brands of brushes, but I mainly stick to a large mop, medium round and smaller synthetic brush with a point.

Here are the list of pigments on my palette:

Burnt Sienna
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue Cobalt
Teal Blue
Cobalt Turquoise
Lavender
Neutral Tint
Payne's Gray
Quinacridone Gold
Raw Sienna
Raw Sienna Light
Raw Umber
Rose Madder Permanent
Ultramarine Blue

If you would like to purchase some of the brushes I feature in this video you can take a look at my Amazon Affiliate link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/m.white.art

Drawing

First Wash

Second Wash

Third Wash

My Three Step Watercolor Process

Breaking down a watercolor painting into these three steps - first focusing on the lightest, brightest values in my painting, then creating connection with my middle values, and then adding the darks and details - guides me through a scene and helps me to achieve a full spectrum of values.

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