How to draw a watercolour seahorse

Step 1: Drawing transfer

-     Print the reference image or draw it directly onto your paper

-     If using a printout, shade the back with a 6B pencil and trace over it onto your watercolour paper

-     Use an F grade pencil to darken the outline lightly

Step 2: Using Masking Fluid

-     Shake masking fluid well and pour a small amount into a palette or jar lid

-     Use a cheap brush to paint the fluid onto the exoskeleton area of the seahorse

-     Flick a few drops of masking fluid around for fun white splatters

-     Let masking fluid dry completely

Tip: Clean the masking fluid from your brush and working surface straight after use

Step 3: Background painting

-     Tape the watercolour paper to your drawing board or table using packing tape to help minimise warping

-     Use your Woodless Watercolour Pencils to create large colour swatches on a separate piece of paper (Cadmium Yellow, Crimson, Cerulean Blue)

-     Use a mop brush dipped in water to pick up the colour from the swatches and flick it onto the paper

-     Start with yellow, then red, then blue to add colour around the seahorse

-     Let the background dry fully

Step 5: Seahorse colouring

-     Using the pencils directly on the paper, colour in the seahorse:

     -      Crimson on the muzzle

     -      Cadmium Yellow blending into the Crimson

     -      Cerulean Blue along the body

     -      Orange near the eye plus Lavender on the eye with touches of Yellow

     -      Switch between Crimson, Scarlet, Cerulean and Lavender down the body

     -      Phthalo Green for the belly

     -      Darken the spine area with Scarlet and Yellow

Step 6: Blending watercolour

-     Use a small round brush dipped in water to activate and blend the pencil marks

-     Clean your brush between colours

-     Blend slowly and leave a little texture from the pencil marks

-     Add a touch of black to the eye for contrast

Step 7: Remove masking fluid and add details

-     Once fully dry, gently peel off the masking fluid with your finger or an eraser

-     Use Cerulean and Scarlet to accentuate the seahorse skeleton

-     Dip the tip of your pencil into water and draw directly onto the paper

-     This creates bold, precise lines—great for the spines along the seahorse's head and back

Step 8: Final touches:

-     Deepen your colours or add highlights where needed

-     Let everything dry completely and remove from the drawing board

Done! You’ve created a playful, textured seahorse using watercolour pencil techniques. This project is a great intro to working with masking fluid, blending with water, and layering colour—and who doesn’t love a rainbow seahorse? 🌈🌊