20-minute watercolor

Author: Emily Olson
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 8 September 2026
160 pages

20-Minute Watercolor jump-starts your watercolor journey with 52 beginner-friendly projects you can complete in just 20 minutes each—using only seven paint colors and one brush.

Discover the joy of watercolor painting with 52 beginner-friendly projects you can complete in just 20 minutes each—using only 7 paint colors and 1 brush.

You don’t need a huge time commitment or fancy tools to start watercolor painting—just 20 minutes a day, 7 basic colors, and 1 good brush. With 20-Minute Watercolor, bestselling instructor Emily Olson makes watercolor approachable, enjoyable, and achievable for every skill level.

Inside, you’ll find 52 quick painting projects designed to teach watercolor basics in an engaging and low-pressure format. Learn essential techniques like washes, wet-on-wet, dry brushing, and color mixing—all while painting everyday objects, landscapes, florals, animals, and more. Each project includes step-by-step instructions, progress photos, and links to supporting videos, making it easy to succeed even if you’ve never picked up a brush.

What makes this book unique:

Quick 20-minute sessions that make it easy to build a daily painting habit

Simple supplies—you only need 7 colors and 1 brush to start

Bonus templates and videos to help you trace, paint, and practice with confidence

Encouraging tone and expert instruction from a popular teacher who has taught thousands of people through her online classes

Perfect for beginners, hobbyists, and anyone craving a calm, creative outlet, 20-Minute Watercolor proves that watercolor doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s the perfect gift, daily challenge, or personal reset—and a beautiful way to add more art to your life.

About the Author

Emily Olson is an artist living in Boulder, Colorado. She has taught thousands of people to paint with her “no pressure, just paint” method through her Watercolor Mastery online school. She is the author of Paint the National Parks.