How to Paint Watercolor Gemstones 3 Ways: Beginner-Friendly Tutorial

Want to bring some sparkle into your watercolor paintings?

Let me show you three ways I love to paint gemstones using watercolors, a brush, and a little imagination.

Whether sketching from a real gem, a reference photo, or straight from your mind, these techniques are all about fun, color, and creativity.

You don't need perfection—just a willingness to explore and play.

Getting Started: Materials & Sketching Your Gemstones

Before we dive into painting, let's set the stage. These basics will make everything easier later on.

Essential Tools for the Job

Here's what I always grab before painting gemstones:

• Watercolor paper
• A pencil
• A ruler 
• Water 
• A paper towel
• Paint palette and paints
• Brushes of various sizes
• A white gel pen or white gouache (I prefer gouache for this tutorial)

Sketching the Shapes

Start by sketching your gemstones lightly with a pencil. If you're new to painting gemstones, looking at real gemstone references online or in books is a good idea.

This will help you understand the shapes and facets of gemstones. You can go with a geometric shape like a diamond or a more organic, rough-cut gemstone.

• Sketch 1: Try a simple geometric gemstone shape, like a diamond.
• Sketch 2: Next, go for a rough-cut gemstone with irregular facets.
• Sketch 3: Use a real gemstone as your reference for an added challenge.

Once your sketch is done, use a kneadable eraser to clean up any extra lines.

Don't worry if your lines are imperfect—gemstones often have slight imperfections, which gives them character.

Technique 1: Painting a Pink and Purple Gemstone with Reflective Surfaces

Let's jump right into the first gemstone! I start with a simple sketch and choose a pink and purple combo.

This combo always feels magical—soft, dreamy, and still vibrant enough to pop.

Building the Base Layer

To get the pink right, I tweak it a bit. I add a hint of red to my purple-magenta mix. That gives it a warmer, peachy tone.

Then, I dip into my yellow for some soft highlights and reflections.

I begin painting the gemstone by focusing on the flattest surface. With a loaded brush, I create a smooth gradient from that peachy pink to the purple.

I work my way up about three-quarters of the gemstone. When I hit that point, I switch to yellow, starting from the opposite end to create a subtle reflection.

I ensure the two colors don't mix too much in the middle—otherwise, it could get muddy.

It doesn't need to be a perfect blend. This is just my base layer.

But remember, watercolor is all about layering, and I've got to let each layer dry before I move on. I use a hairdryer to speed things up, but letting it air dry works, too.

Painting Each Surface Differently

Next, I work on the other surfaces. For one of them, I create a yellow-to-peach gradient. I like to switch up the colors on each face of the gemstone.

Every surface catches the light a little differently. I'm no gemstone expert, but my goal isn't perfection—it's about creating something that feels believable.

Sometimes, the reflections don't follow a clear rule, so I trust my instincts. One face gets a rich purple tone to show that it's turned away from the light.

I start with three of the surfaces that aren't touching. Then, I dry them again before working on the others. That way, I don't get any bleeding or unwanted blending.

Creating Interest with Brush Stroke Direction

One thing that helps the gemstone look real is switching up the brush stroke directions. On the front face, I paint in a diagonal direction.

Then, on the surface next to it, I paint diagonally in the opposite direction. It adds a nice contrast and makes the light reflections feel more natural.

This step might sound small, but it brings everything to life.

Filling in All the Faces

I keep going with the gradient technique, surface by surface. I pay close attention to how the light might bounce off each area.

And again, I switch up my brush strokes for interest. Each face is treated like a mini painting, with unique light and shadow.

Don't stress if my edges aren't super clean at this point. Mine aren't either—I'm a bit of a chaotic painter! The good news is that we'll clean them up later with a nice outline.

Adding Dimension with Layered Lines

Once everything is dry, it's time to add some depth. I return to my original mixed colors—I just have to refresh them because they dried out.

Then, I add lines following the same diagonal directions I painted.

I don't want harsh lines, so I use a light hand and keep them soft and blended. Each line has a bit of gradient.

It feels more natural as if the light is moving through the gem.

I match the colors of the lines to the background layer underneath. So, I used the same color on the surface, starting with peachy pink.

On the purple side, I add lines in that tone. Then, I add a few lines in a yellowish shade but with a touch of pink. It's all about subtle variation.

Repeating the Technique on Other Surfaces

Then, I repeat that same method on the other gemstone surfaces. I pay attention to the original brush stroke directions.

Some surfaces have darker base colors, so I feel free to use darker lines. Others have lighter bases, so I keep the lines very minimal.

One of the upper-left faces barely gets any lines at all. It's already light, and I don't want to overdo it.

Enhancing Depth by Darkening Edges

After everything dries, I deepen some of the gradients. I only go about halfway up the brush strokes, though—not all the way.

That trick adds a lot more dimension without making things look too heavy.

There's no need to be super precise here. I trust my gut. I'm not aiming for perfection—I follow what feels right.

Outlining the Gemstone for Sharpness

Now comes the outlining step. This part is magic—it hides rough edges and defines the shape.

I grab a small brush and dip it into a darker paint. If I need to, I mix up a new batch to get the right shade. I don't outline the entire gemstone with the same thickness.

Instead, I focus on the thicker parts at the tops of the surfaces, keeping the center lines lighter.

That contrast makes the whole thing look more three-dimensional. At the gemstone's corners (the vertices), I add even more thickness to create tiny reflective surfaces.

They add sparkle and give the illusion of sharp edges.

Final Touches with Gouache and Gel Pen

Now, it's time to add those dreamy reflections. I use gouache—Winsor & Newton Designer’s Gouache, to be exact.

But to be honest, I prefer Holbein gouache. It tends to stay whiter and doesn't shift to a bluish-gray when it dries.

With gouache, I paint diagonal lines and soft gradients on each surface. I follow the same directions as my original brush strokes.

I place them opposite where I imagine the light hitting the gemstone. It helps the highlights stand out more.

Because my gouache is a bit transparent, I must layer it up. I don't mind. I keep going until it feels right. I add tiny dots and lines to show sparkle and light bouncing around.

To finish it off, I use a white gel pen. This is my favorite part—it's like adding stars to a galaxy. I place little dots, starbursts, and tiny highlights around the gem.

I even emphasize those small surfaces I created with thicker outline points earlier. And just like that, my gemstone is alive with light.

Technique 2: A Rough-Cut Blue Galaxy Gemstone

This second technique is for you if you want something more textured and loose. It's all about creating a gemstone with rough-cut vibes and a bit of a galaxy feel.

Mix Your Colors and Start the Gradient

For this gemstone, I mix two shades of blue to give it more variation and depth. It's essential to use different shades to give the gemstone more dimension. 

I begin by applying the wet-on-wet technique, which is similar to the approach I used for the galaxy effect.

To create this gradient, I focus on making the bottom of the gemstone lighter and the top darker.

I don't blend the colors perfectly; I want to allow the colors to mix roughly, which adds to the rough-cut look.

I keep it light and airy at the bottom while letting the darker blue settle at the top.

This technique helps create a more random, uneven gradient that looks natural and dynamic.

Once I apply the gradient, I leave it to dry before moving on to the next section.

Drying is crucial because it allows the colors to set without bleeding into each other too much. You can use a hairdryer to speed up this process, but you can air-dry the painting if you prefer.

Adding Variations and Depth

Next, I go over each surface with more variations of blue, dropping them in randomly. The goal is to create a rough texture, so I don't worry too much about precision.

Adding a mix of darker and lighter blues gives the gemstone a more chaotic, rough-cut look, just like the stone you'd find in nature.

When doing this, remember to keep the lightness at the bottom and darkness at the top. The idea is to let each layer dry before adding more.

This ensures that the colors don't get muddy, and you get that beautiful blend of colors without mixing too much.

Creating the Outline and Adding Dimensions

Once the paint has dried completely, I go in with my outline. This is where I add extra definition to the edges and corners of the gemstone.

I focus on outlining the vertices (the points of the gemstone), making them slightly thicker to create more interest and depth. This gives the gemstone a sharper, more realistic look.

To do this, I use a darker blue paint, adding rough lines around the edges of the gemstone surfaces.

The key here is to make the edges darker while leaving the middle areas lighter. This creates the illusion of light reflecting off the surface, which adds a sense of dimension.

For the vertices, I paint them in a diamond shape to give them a flat, reflective surface. This will serve as a base for the reflections we'll add later.

The outline helps the gemstone appear more structured while keeping that rough-cut look intact.

Adding Texture and Interest

Now comes the fun part—adding texture! At this stage, I go in with some dark blue paint and apply it roughly to certain areas to increase the depth.

The idea is to make the gemstone feel more dynamic and interesting, almost like it has a galaxy effect. I don't mind if the paint gets messy, as it adds character to the gemstone.

I use a paper towel to blot the wet paint for added texture. The paper towel lifts some of the paint, leaving a textured surface behind.

This technique mimics the natural texture of a rough gemstone. 

You could also use salt to achieve a similar effect. Just sprinkle salt onto the wet paint, creating a mottled texture as the salt absorbs some of the water and pigment.

Be sure to let it dry naturally if you use salt, as heat from a hairdryer can make the salt dissolve and lose its texture.

Adding the Reflections

I use gouache paint in white or light blue for the reflections.

This part is not about smoothness—it's all about keeping the reflections rough and irregular to match the gemstone's rugged surface.

I drop the white paint along the edges, keeping the reflections rough and imperfect.

The goal is to capture the light bouncing off the gemstone, so it doesn't need to be clean or precise.

The reflections don't have to be uniform—let them be imperfect! A rough, unblended look enhances the rough-cut gemstone effect.

I also review the vertices again with some highlights to make those points stand out more. These little touches will give your gemstone a realistic reflective quality.

Final Touches with the Gel Pen

I bring in my white gel pen to add a little extra sparkle. This is my secret weapon to add those tiny highlights and reflective dots.

I sprinkle these highlights on areas where the light would hit the hardest, giving the gemstone a little extra shine.

I especially like adding these around the vertices and edges for emphasis.

This final step makes the gemstone feel alive as if the light bounces off it in different directions.

Technique 3: Creating a Gemstone with Zebra-Like Stripes and Reflections

In the final technique, I took inspiration directly from a real gemstone I had on hand. This is a fun way to blend observation with creativity.

Mixing the Colors and Applying the Wet-on-Wet Base

I mix two orange-yellow shades and a little red to give the gemstone a warm, vibrant look. 

I start by applying a wash of clean water onto the gemstone's surface.

This will help with the wet-on-wet technique, where we drop the mixed colors into the wet surface to allow them to flow and blend. 

Once the water is on the surface, I drop the orange and yellow colors, letting them move freely.

Don't worry about being too neat or precise here—it's all about letting the colors spread and mix, which gives it that organic feel.

You'll notice the colors spread out and flow into each other, creating a beautiful, natural gradient effect.

This step gives the gemstone its base color and sets the stage for the next layers.

Building Shadows and Adding Depth

Once the first layer has dried completely, it's time to go in with a second layer. This time, I'm focusing on adding shadows to give the gemstone more dimension.

I start by applying a wash of color a little bit away from the edges of the gemstone, leaving a small gap. Then, I blend it out into the middle of the gemstone, creating a soft gradient.

I drop in a bit of aqua blue to add some extra depth.

This gives the illusion that the gemstone is somewhat see-through, like it's in front of something blue, perhaps reflecting the sky.

This additional layer adds realism and makes the gemstone feel more three-dimensional.

Again, it doesn't need to be perfect or neat. It's more about creating an effect that feels natural and dynamic.

Creating Patterns and Texture

Now it's time to get creative! I go in with one of my orange colors and create some zebra-like stripes across the gemstone.

These stripes are just washes of color, not solid, saturated lines. I want them to remain light and translucent, which keeps the gradient effect intact while adding texture and interest.

You can create any pattern you like—dots, stripes, or swirls—whatever feels right.

This step mimics the natural patterns in gemstones, like impurities or variations within the stone. It adds a bit of randomness, making the gemstone feel more authentic.

I don't focus on saturation here; instead, I aim for a delicate wash of color, letting the background show through.

Soft Outlining and Adding Reflections

Next, I go in with a very light outline around the edges.

Unlike the darker outlines from the previous gemstones, this one is softer and blends more into the middle of the gemstone.

The goal is to create a subtle outline that helps define the shape without making it look too harsh.

Once the outline is in place, I start adding the reflections.

I focus on where the “corners” would be, although the gemstone is rounded. I look for high points and low points to add shadows and reflections.

I leave small gaps in the reflection, similar to how light reflects on real gemstones. This adds a sense of realism and depth to the piece.

The reflections don't have to follow any strict pattern—just let them flow naturally, focusing on creating visual interest.

I also add a bit of gouache to the center of the gemstone. This creates a curved effect, giving the impression that the light hits the gemstone from different angles.

Again, there's no exact science for where I place the reflections; I go where my heart leads me!

Final Details and Adding Extra Sparkle

Finally, I add some darker color along the edges where I feel the shadow could be a bit more pronounced.

This extra layer adds depth and makes the gemstone appear even more three-dimensional.

After that, I finish with a few little stars and extra highlights using my gel pen.

These tiny light touches bring the gemstone to life, making it look shiny and reflective, just like a real gem would in the light.

This step is about adding those small finishing details that make the gemstone feel polished and complete.

Final Thoughts

There are three ways to paint gemstones with watercolor. I hope you feel inspired to try these techniques.

Whether you're painting a faceted gemstone, a rough-cut stone, or a real gemstone-inspired piece, these steps will help you create beautiful and realistic gemstones.

Don't forget to experiment with different colors and textures to make your gemstones unique.