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Movement: Curve, twist, and wander across your artwork.
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Shape Color: Divide, connect & define color in unexpected ways.
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Add Expression: Use bold, playful marks to express yourself.
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Build Depth: Introduce new patterns, layers, and dimensions.
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Spark Discovery: Finding new possibilities.
Begin with a line, a splash of color, or a simple shape. Let your pen and brush explore the page together. Follow the curves, cross the boundaries, and discover what happens when colors and lines meet. There's no right or wrong way to create—just possibilities waiting to unfold.​​
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Begin with a line, follow your curiosity and create from your core.
The goal is to see and discover what happens when you add lines, stay inside, and go outside, letting your imagination fly.
What can a line do?
Explore the creative possibilities of combining drawing and painting. Begin with lines, shapes, or washes of color, then discover how each can transform the other. Lines can define spaces, create movement, add patterns, or bring unexpected shapes to life.
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Experiment with bold or delicate marks, flowing curves, and layers of color. Whether you draw first, paint first, or move between the two, let each new mark inspire the next and see where your imagination takes you.
Painting With Lines
What you will need
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Watercolor Paints: I started with a $16 Amazon set that came with a floral book
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Can also be done with acrylics, color pencils, pens, and other media​
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Watercolor Paper or Practice Book: Quality paper is worth it, if you can afford it.
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Sharpie: Quality permanent markers. My set came from Walmart in the art section. ​
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Container for water: Any jar will do.
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Brushes: Some paints come with a brush set. You can also buy them or ask a neighbor.​​
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Sponge or Paper Towel: To dab or dry-brush, helping control paint flow and effects.
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Creative Space: Table, desk, or even a bedside table.
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Time - Patience - Practice - Letting go - Being kind to yourself.
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Favorite Watercolor Supplier: CozyLark.com
Where I purchase my practice book
Getting Started
Let your creativity flow!
Begin with a Line
Let your pen wander across the page. Create curves, loops, straight lines, or intersecting shapes without planning the outcome. Intuitively feel where your hand wishes to go. Observe the movement and design being created. Let your mind go.
Explore the Spaces
Look at the shapes and spaces your lines have created. Notice which areas catch your attention and invite color into them. What colors do you want to use? Where do you feel they should go? Put color down, look back, and see the painting change.
Color Interaction
Watch what happens as colors meet, blend, or overlap. Try adding color beside or across another area. Notice how each new color changes the feeling and movement of your painting.
Let Lines Speak
Once your paint has dried, look at your painting again. Add new bolder lines, swirls, patterns, or details wherever you feel inspired. See how a few simple marks can change the character of your painting.
Step Back and Descover
Take a moment. Look at your painting as a whole. Notice the movement, shapes, and unexpected details emerging. Does something catch your eye and inspire a new direction? Follow your curiosity and creative flow.
Know When To Let Go
Your painting doesn't need to be perfect or even feel finished. Add another mark if you wish, or simply let it be. Appreciate the experience, the discoveries, and the creative journey that brought you here.
Tips to Experiment With
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Change your tools.
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Try fine-tip pens, Sharpies, brush pens, colored pencils, or paint markers
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Each creates a different feeling, line value and experience ​​​
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Thick, thin, over lapping, broken, flowing, straight, curved​
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Reverse the process.
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Start with watercolor then permanent pen​
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Permanent pen then watercolor
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Add distinct shapes from nature or your imagination
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Try not to use white or black to darken or lighten colors.
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With watercolor, you'll use water to lighten.
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Play with contrast.
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Delicate lines over bold colors
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Dark lines over pale washes
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White and metallic marks over darker paint.​
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Discover hidden shapes.​
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familiar objects, faces, flowers
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Imaginary creatures within your washes
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Patterns and different textures​
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Mix different mediums and see what else you can discover.
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Every Line Tells a Story
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Some lines wander, some connect, and others lead somewhere unexpected. Together with color, they create something uniquely yours.
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Whether your painting is bold and expressive, soft and delicate, or somewhere in between, what matters is the experience of exploring and discovering along the way.
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Every line is a possibility.
Every mark is part of your creative journey.