Grid Art with Watercolor: Experimenting with Watercolor Materials
Explore watercolor paint, pencils, markers, and crayons inside a simple grid.
Watercolor comes in many different forms.
Most people think of watercolor paint in a pan or tube, but many other tools behave like watercolor once water is added.
In this grid art experiment, I explore a variety of watercolor materials to see what they do and how they interact with each other.
A grid is a wonderful way to experiment. Each square becomes a small playground where you can test techniques, layering, mark making, and different combinations of materials.
Some materials dissolve completely when activated with water. Others stay visible. Sometimes unexpected things happen, which is exactly the point.
This exercise isn’t about creating a finished artwork. It’s about discovering what your materials can do.
Materials Needed:
Use whatever watercolor tools you already have. For example:
Watercolor paint (pan or tube)
Watercolor pencils
Stabilo All pencils
Inktense pencils
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II water-soluble crayons
Watercolor markers or brush pens
Water
Brush
Paper (preferably watercolor paper)
Tape or pencil to create the grid
Instructions:
Create your grid
Use tape or a pencil to divide your paper into several squares. The grid doesn’t need to be precise; this is an experiment.Start with dry materials
Draw in some squares using watercolor pencils, Stabilo All, Inktense pencils, crayons, or markers.Activate with water
Use a brush and water to activate the materials. Notice which ones dissolve easily and which ones stay more visible.Add watercolor paint
Apply watercolor paint in some squares and see how it interacts with the materials underneath.Experiment with layering
Try drawing on top of wet paint, on dry paint, or layering different materials on top of each other.Play with mark making
Use lines, dots, scribbles, or shapes. Follow the flow of the paint or create contrast.Try different techniques
Dip a crayon in water, draw with a pencil over paint, or add paint over previous marks.Observe what happens
Notice resist effects, dissolving lines, layering, and textures.Optional: add mixed media
If you feel something is missing, you can add other materials like acrylic markers, gel pens, or ink.Remove the tape
When you remove the tape, the grid suddenly frames each experiment, and you may see interesting combinations you didn’t expect.
Final Thoughts:
Not every square will be something you love, and that’s completely fine.
Grid art is really about exploration. It helps you discover which marks, layers, and materials you might want to use later in your own artwork.
Sometimes the most interesting discoveries come from small accidents.
So just play, experiment, and see what your materials want to do.
What's Next?
Explore further
If you enjoyed this process, you might also like other blog posts where I explore similar techniques, materials, and ways of working, always focused on play, process, and creative freedom. If you are new to Grid Art, this blog might help you
Try a variation
Repeat this exercise with different materials, colors, or rules. Small changes often lead to completely new results.
Reflect & continue
Take a moment to notice what surprised you during this process. What worked? What felt uncomfortable? What would you like to explore next?
