Easy Watercolor Tutorial: Negative Painting with Vibrant Fish

Do you want to create magical layers in your watercolor art without painting the subject directly?

Let me show you how to do that with a fun and beautiful negative painting technique. It sounds tricky, but I promise it's easy and relaxing once you get the hang of it.

Let's dive into one of my favorite watercolor exercises—and by the end, you'll have a glowing, layered underwater scene full of colorful fish.

What Is Negative Painting in Watercolor?

Let's begin by understanding what this technique is all about. Negative painting means painting around the subject instead of filling it in.

It's about using the background to shape the image. So, instead of painting the fish, I'll paint everything but the fish, allowing their shape to stand out through the untouched areas.

This approach creates a layered, dimensional effect that gets more dramatic with each layer. It's both simple and powerful—and, best of all, very relaxing.

Step 1: Sketch Your Design and Prepare Your Paper

Let's start with what I used and how I set everything up. Here's what you need:

• Watercolor paper (taped down)
• A pencil for sketching
• Watercolor paints (magenta, sky blue, cadmium yellow, matter red, Payne's Gray)
• Flat and round brushes
• Water container
• Paper towels
• Fine liner pen (0.03 tip)
• White pen for highlights

I tape down my watercolor paper to keep it from warping. Then, I make a few simple fish sketches.

They're very basic and come in different sizes to give the sense of depth—smaller ones look like they're farther away, while the big ones are right in front.

The three largest fish will stay in the front, and we'll build around them.

Since watercolor usually works best from light to dark, our first layer will be the most colorful.

My idea is to create a bright, almost galaxy-like background and slowly darken it in each layer to bring the fish forward.

Step 2: Wet the Paper and Add Bright Colors

This part is all about playing with color. To start, I make sure the paper is moist. I usually keep my pencil lines light, but I go darker this time, so it's easier for you to see.

The water helps the colors bloom and mix beautifully. 

I use my Maylene palette, starting with magenta. I drop it right onto the paper, especially around the big fish in the foreground.

Next, I dip into sky blue and do the same. I make sure the fish stay colorful. 

If any area gets too dark, I gently blot it with a paper towel while the paint is still wet. This helps lift the pigment and keeps things light.

Then, I go into cadmium yellow. I drop it in a few spots and blot again to keep it strong and vibrant. I don't want muddy colors, so blotting helps keep the layers clean. 

After that, I use a smaller brush and go back into the magenta and blue to boost some areas with more pigment.

My paper is still wet, so I keep building those beautiful, bright tones. I even add a bit of madder red in some spots. Then, I drop some magenta and blue.

While adding colors, I always blot my brush well before picking up a new pigment to avoid that unwanted cauliflower effect from too much water.

The goal for this first layer is to make the fish pop later. I ensure the colors are intense, vibrant, and ready for layering. Once I am happy with it, I let it dry completely before moving on.

Step 3: Paint the First Negative Layer Around the Foreground Fish

Now comes the fun part—our first real negative painting layer. Once the first layer is completely dry, I add a small new sketch of a fish in a yellow area I like.

This fish will appear in the second layer.

With negative painting, the trick is to paint around the things you want to keep. So, in this step, I paint around the three largest foreground fish, which remain untouched throughout all layers.

I mix a light blue wash for this layer. I mix enough paint to cover the entire paper, so I don't have to remix halfway through and risk color inconsistencies.

I also add plenty of water to keep the wash nice and light.

I use a flat brush to apply the paint. It helps cover more space evenly and get into corners without flooding the paper.

I start at the top and work my way down. This allows me to avoid smudging with my hand.

As I get close to each fish, I slow down and carefully follow their outlines. That's the beauty of negative painting—you don't paint the fish themselves, just the areas around them.

I dip into the paint frequently and keep working quickly to prevent any backwash or uneven areas.

The goal is to darken the background while keeping the foreground fish clean and bright. I notice the blue over the yellow creates a pretty green, which is a nice bonus.

I make sure to get into all the little corners and tails. Once I finish that wash, I let it dry completely again.

Step 4: The Third Layer: Defining More Fish

Now, it's time to build more depth in the painting. In this step, I add the third layer, but I'm not painting over everything—just carefully choosing which fish to keep clear and which ones to add more color.

I don't paint two layers of fish here. Instead, I make sure the three fish in the front stay untouched. I want them to remain bright and clear. So, I leave them out of this new wash.

Next, I look for the fish that are just behind the front ones. These are the next largest in size. I choose four of them for this back layer. These are the ones I'll be painting now.

The paint is getting darker at this stage, so I slow down a bit. I take care to avoid painting over any fish that should stay light. I keep my brush controlled and my strokes clean.

I move the color across the top, carefully avoiding one of the front fish, then bring it straight down the tail and underneath it.

I also keep the fish I want to remain clear by painting around them slowly. I return to the other side and ensure I finish this layer before anything dries.

I cut into one of the fish tails and bring the color straight up.

Then, I move down the other side and spread the color again. As I paint, I see the contrast start to grow. This step makes the fish pop.

I don't forget small corners, either. There's a little angle I need to fill in. I go around two more fish, ensuring the paint stays in the right places.

Some areas are tight and tricky to reach. So, I switch to a round brush with a fine point. It helps me get into a tiny tail area and carefully paint around one fish's head.

That's it for this layer. I let it dry fully before moving on to the next step.

Step 5: The Final Layer: Darkening the Background

We've come to the last step, and I'm excited to finish strong. In this layer, I don't paint any more fish. Instead, I focus completely on the background.

This part is all about deepening the color to create bold contrast and make those fish stand out.

I start by mixing up more of the same blue I used before. But this time, I also add some Payne's Gray.

I want this last layer to be deep and rich. Since I know I'm not painting anything else after this, I go all in with the color. I even add more of that sky blue to make the mix just right.

It turns into a beautiful, intense blue.

Once my paint is ready, I begin in the top corner. I carefully paint around the first fish. Then there's a tail to go around and another little fish body coming in from the side.

I take my time and finish each section before it dries. That helps keep things smooth and even.

Like before, I keep painting around the edges—up to tails and beside the fish—and I don't rush. It's a simple process and honestly pretty relaxing.

You can make it more detailed if you want to, but you don't need to. A clean, simple background works great in negative painting.

I notice another small fish peeking out as I go, so I carefully paint around that one, too. I keep dipping into my paint and even add more color when needed.

Then, I continue filling in the rest of the background.

There's one area with no fish, so I can paint straight across without worrying. But even then, I still see little hints of the earlier layer showing through.

That's fine—it adds a nice depth to the painting. This layer mostly becomes an intense, dark blue that brings the whole scene to life.

If your paint looks too light, don't worry. You can always come back and add another layer on top.

It works! But for me, I know I'm finished with everything else, so this final coat does the job perfectly.

I make sure to get the corner over here and another little corner up top. Then, I move through the middle section, just like before.

There's another tiny fish I need to go around, and at this point, my paint is getting low. So, I mop up what's left on my palette.

I keep the layer as even as I can. I grab my round brush again when I spot a few small missed areas. It's perfect for those tiny spots.

I mix up a fresh bit of paint—it doesn't need to match exactly—and gently dab in the missing bits.

One spot turns dark, so I blot my brush and blend it out. I keep blotting and brushing lightly. I don't want to overwork it.

If I rub too much, I risk lifting the earlier layers of paint, especially if they're not completely dry. So, I fix what I can and then stop.

Now, I let everything dry thoroughly.

Step 6: Finishing Touches and Reflections

Now that the paint is dry, it's time for some finishing touches. I grab my fine liner with a 0.03 tip and my white pen.

First, I add eyes to the fish. I draw a small black outline, then fill a black circle inside it. I do this for the second-layer fish, too. I make tiny black circles for the background fish—nothing too detailed.

Then, I switch to my white pen to add a little highlight in each eye. It's a small touch, but it brings the fish to life. 

I try a new pen to add a few white bubbles floating up the page. It's okay if they go before other fish—this adds a playful effect. For the background fish, I add only small white dots.

But for the front three, I decide to make them stand out even more. I give each one a simple white outline. I even get scribbly with it—and I like the effect.

It makes the painting feel light and fun.

That final bit of contrast brings the front fish forward. Now everything feels balanced, full of life, and finished just right.

Final Thoughts

Negative painting is a versatile technique that can transform your watercolor artwork. You create depth and intrigue by focusing on the spaces around your subject.

I encourage you to experiment with different shapes and colors, exploring the endless possibilities this method offers. Ready to dive into negative painting?

Grab your brushes and let your creativity flow!