Easy Abstract Watercolor Tutorial | Connect the Dots

Some days, I just need a way to begin, something small that pulls me out of my head and into the moment. This little exercise does exactly that.

It starts with a few simple pencil dots. Nothing fancy. I make them using the edge of a post-it, so they’re placed with just enough intention, but not planned either. Then comes the watercolor, connecting those dots and letting shapes appear and melt into each other.

If you enjoyed my earlier blog “Connect the Dots: A Mindful Art Exercise to Spark Creativity”, this is a hands-on watercolor extension, with room for exploration.

It’s part mindful setup, part beautiful chaos. You decide where the lines begin, but the paint decides how they’ll end. The water takes over, colors blend in their own way, and suddenly you’re watching something unfold that you didn’t quite expect, but somehow feels right.

I love this because it’s the perfect mix of control and surrender. It reminds me that creativity doesn’t always need a plan; sometimes it just needs permission.

Materials You’ll Need

This exercise is super accessible. Use what you already have

• A sketchbook or sheet of watercolor paper

• A Post-it or card for a square or rectangular shape, but also experiment with round shapes or triangular shapes.

• A pencil or fineliner

• Watercolor (any palette you love) and a brush

Instructions:

Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow (and you can adapt as you go):

1. Prepare your space. Lay out your paper, water, colors, and tools. Take a moment to breathe, shake out your hand, loosen your shoulder.

2. Place your Post-it or card on your paper and make little dots randomly around the shape. Let your hand move freely. No overthinking.

3. Take off the post-it or card and start placing dots in the shape. Again, randomly without overthinking it.

4. Observe the dots. Step back (metaphorically) and see how your dots relate to one another. Notice where your eyes want to connect them, where there’s “empty space” between them, and how they are balanced.

5. Begin to connect. Using watercolor, start drawing lines or organic shapes from one dot toward another. You can keep the paint light or richer, depending on how much water you use.

6. Expand the shapes. Gradually, let the connections grow. Fill in the spaces and observe how the watercolor flows and interacts with the adjoining shapes.

7. Finish with intention. When it ‘feels done’, resist the urge to overwork. You might add a detail, accent, or contrast.

8. Optional but powerful: Reflect & journal. Write a few lines about what surprised you, what you felt while creating, and what you might try next time.

Why This Exercise Works

This technique is a great tool to:

• Get out of your head and into the flow

• Practice creative decision-making without pressure

• Spark new ideas for future artworks

• Reconnect with your sketchbook in a fun, low-stakes way

Because you decide the rules, each page becomes a small act of creative problem-solving. Perfect for warming up or winding down.

Want More Creative Prompts?

If you love simple creative prompts like this, you’ll enjoy my online course Creative Boost. A series of bite-sized exercises to help you reconnect with your creativity.

Let me know if you enjoyed this exercise!