The Best Watercolor Books for Beginners (and How to Use Them)
Hey, I’m Mel, the founder of Tobio’s — and before anything else, I want you to know that Tobio’s doesn’t publish a watercolor book. We make a wonderful book you paint in, but it isn’t packed with theory and step-by-step instruction. So in this article we’ll go through the best watercolor books for beginners. And since we run a watercolor business, we do know what we’re talking about — these are the books I genuinely reached for when I started, and still use.
If you’ve ever picked up a new hobby, you might recognize this pattern. You decide to try it, then get a little obsessed with curating everything you need. That was me: I got the palette, the paint, the paper, the brushes, plus a big stack of books to really learn the techniques. Then the books sat on the shelf for months before I opened one. I was a bit intimidated, honestly.
Then one day I got inspired, and it was such an eye-opening moment. It didn’t need to be perfect. It just needed to be… something. Paint or blobs on a page. That’s the beauty of watercolor — it doesn’t need to be perfect.
What a good book does is give you a head start, so you’re not guessing for weeks or months. A few simple techniques go a long way. But which one should you pick? There are so many great ones. Here are my favorites, sorted by what you might be looking for — I hope they help you get the best possible start.
How we picked
I judged each book on three things: the level it was made for, how good it is at actually teaching, and the quality of the book itself. A book can look incredible and still not help someone progress — so this list is deeply personal.
Best overall for beginners: Everyday Watercolor
Jenna Rainey’s Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days is one of the most recommended beginner books out there, and it’s easy to see why. It uses a daily-lesson format: you start with basic strokes and shapes and build up to full paintings over 30 days. The style is modern and colorful, and each lesson is bite-sized — sit down for 15 minutes and feel like you made real progress.
One thing to know: the later lessons assume you’ve absorbed the earlier ones. If you need every step spelled out, just go slower and be patient with yourself. Overall it’s a solid pick and it has my highest recommendation.
Best for botanicals: Painting Watercolor Botanicals
If you love flowers and foliage, Harriet de Winton’s Painting Watercolor Botanicals (published in the UK as New Botanical Painting) is the one for you. You get 30+ step-by-step botanical projects in a soft, contemporary, loose style, plus the basics of technique and color mixing. It’s fun and non-intimidating, and if you love the motifs it feels like a treat with every project. Harriet also has a lovely Instagram full of tutorials and paint-alongs.
I love how patient she is — the book reads like an encouraging friend whispering in your ear as you paint. There’s plenty here for beginners and for those who already know the basics. Just keep in mind it’s truly for flower-and-foliage lovers; if you want more variety, pair it with another pick on this list.
Best for playful, loose painting: The Joy of Watercolor
Emma Block’s The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You is the dreamiest, most whimsical book on this list. The 40 lessons are pure joy — you paint the things around you, like ice cream, plants, your coffee cup, small scenes. The illustrative style is super forgiving; there’s no need for perfect proportions or realistic shading, and the color-mixing guidance is great.
The lessons are organized by skill level — beginner, intermediate, advanced — so you can work through them in order and feel your skills build. The one downside is that it moves quickly, especially on fundamentals like how wet your brush and paper should be. If you already have a little experience, it’s perfect.
Best paint-inside option: Watercolor Made Simple
Nicki Traikos’s Watercolor Made Simple is a feast for the eyes — the illustrations are genuinely beautiful. It sits somewhere between a workbook and a teaching book: you learn real techniques, color theory, and step-by-step instructions, and the paper quality is fantastic. The left page is packed with full-color instructions, diagrams, and photos; the right page is thick, heavy watercolor paper you paint right on.
The templates range from simple to complex, so there’s always a subject that fits your mood, and Nicki’s teaching is clear and easy to follow (she even helps you put together a basic travel kit). Honestly, this is the closest a teaching book comes to what I love about a paintable workbook.
Book vs. workbook vs. coloring book
It’s not always obvious how these differ. A teaching book explains technique and theory, but you paint on separate watercolor paper, not in the book. A workbook is paintable — you open it and paint right inside, no separate paper needed. A coloring book is printed on regular paper, so it’s not suited to watercolor: the paint bleeds through and the paper buckles.
If you want the full picture of paintable workbooks, including the Tobio’s Beginners Workbook, my best watercolor workbooks roundup compares them in more depth. (A dedicated breakdown of coloring books vs. workbooks is coming soon.)
Books alone aren’t enough — here’s how to practice for real
A book can teach you theory, but you still have to practice, not just study. If you’re struggling to turn a book’s instructions into an actual painting, pair it with a paintable workbook so the composition is already done for you — all you do is practice the technique the book just explained. Our Beginners Workbook ($12.99) works well as exactly that kind of paint-along companion to whichever book you pick.
If you don’t have supplies yet, the Watercolor Kit ($34) covers the paint, paper, and brush in one box, so the only thing left is to open a book and find your first subject. For a broader starting point, my beginner’s guide to watercolor is a good first stop, and when you’re ready for more practice you can browse all workbooks or read how to use a watercolor workbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best watercolor book for beginners?
Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey is the one I’d recommend. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that teaches really fundamental skills in just 30 days.
Is Everyday Watercolor good for beginners?
Yes. The lessons are great for most beginners; the later ones move faster, so don’t hesitate to revisit earlier lessons if you forget a technique. Go at your own pace and don’t stress.
Book vs. workbook — what’s the difference?
A book teaches the techniques and theory but you need separate paper. A workbook lets you practice right inside the same book.
Can you learn watercolor from a book?
It’s a great starting point — it helped me enormously when I began. A book is perfect for learning technique without getting stuck wondering what to paint next.
What should a beginner watercolor book include?
Clear guidance on supplies and color theory, a logical progression from basic strokes to full paintings, and enough step-by-step instruction that you’re never left guessing.
Stop reading, start painting
If you want a paint-along companion to whichever book you choose, the Beginners Workbook ($12.99) is built for exactly that. And if you still need supplies, the Watercolor Kit ($34) has everything in one box.
Either way, the fastest way to get better is simple: stop reading and start painting.
Mel, FounderLike these guides? Set Tobio's as a preferred source on Google and our pages will show up first when you search for watercolor questions.
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