Feeling unsure how to paint beautiful mountains in watercolor?
I’ve got you covered! In this tutorial, I walk you through four easy and fun techniques that help you create stunning mountain scenes—even if you’re just starting. I use simple tools and show every step clearly.
So grab your brush, and let’s paint mountains together!
Contents
Technique 1: Layered Mountain Technique
Let’s start with one of the easiest mountain painting techniques I use—and also one of the most versatile.
I call it the layered mountain technique, and I enjoy painting this way because it gives such a soft, dreamy effect.
I begin by choosing just one color. For this demo, I use blue. You can go with any color you like. The idea here is to use only one pigment or one paint tray and change how intense the color is with water.
- For the first layer, I water down the pigment a lot.
- I paint several different mountain peaks. Try to vary their shapes to keep the scene interesting.
Once the first layer dries completely, I move on to the second layer. I use the same color but with a bit more pigment this time. I carefully paint over the first layer, but ensure not to cover all the peaks.
I repeat this process two more times for three or four layers. I use a stronger pigment each time and paint new peaks, always leaving parts of the previous layers showing.
This makes the mountains look like they’re fading into the background.
One crucial tip: let each layer dry completely. If the paint is still wet, the colors will bleed, and you won’t get those crisp, clean mountain edges.
Technique 2: Triangle Mountain with Shadow
This second technique is just as simple as the first one, but it gives your mountain more depth and realism.
I like using this method when I want to show light and shadow in a clear, straightforward way.
I begin by sketching a triangle with a pencil. I add a few small peaks coming off the sides to make it feel more natural. A plain triangle looks too flat, so these extra shapes help it feel like a real mountain.
Next, I fill the entire shape with a watered-down version of my chosen color. For this example, I go with pink, but you can use any color you like.
Once that layer is completely dry, I paint over a zigzag line I drew earlier. This line runs unevenly from the top of the mountain down and then tapers off to the left.
That tapering makes it look like the mountain is leveling off near the bottom.
Then, I fill in half of the mountain (on one side of the zigzag) using a more pigmented version of the same color.
This creates a beautiful shadow effect—almost like the sun is rising or setting and casting light on one side while the other side sits in shade.
And that’s it!
Technique 3: Combination of Layering and Wet-on-Wet
Now, it’s time to mix things up a bit. This third technique blends layering and the wet-on-wet method.
I find this one super fun because it gives the mountain a dramatic, jagged look, like the rugged peaks in Hawaii.
I start with the layering technique. I pick a very watered-down purple and paint a rough triangle shape.
I place it a bit off to the right so that when I paint the second mountain, it’ll overlap part of this one.
After the first layer dries, I paint a second mountain on top. This one uses much more pigment, so it pops against the background. It covers about half of the first triangle.
Then, I switch gears to the wet-on-wet part. With the same dark purple, I draw a jagged line downward from the top of the peak. But here’s the key difference:
I don’t let this layer dry. Since it’s still wet, the pigment spreads naturally, creating those rough, jagged textures that make the mountain feel real and wild.
I also bring some of those jagged lines onto the lighter side, where the sun would be hitting. This keeps the whole shape feeling connected and balanced.
You can even go over the background mountain if you want, but I choose to leave mine light and straightforward.
This mix of techniques makes the mountain stand out—and it’s a great way to add mood and texture without too much effort.
Technique 4: Triangle Mountain with Inner Triangles
Let’s finish with my favorite technique. This one creates a mountain of depth by adding smaller triangles inside the main triangle shape.
It looks complex, but relatively simple once you break it down.
I begin by lightly sketching the mountain shape to have a guide. You can draw this in pencil or go freehand if you feel confident.
Then, I use a muted green-gray color and water it down well. I fill in the entire triangle shape with this light wash.
Next, I switch to a more pigmented version of the same color. I draw a jagged line coming down from the top, just like before—but this time, I let that line branch off into several inner triangles. These shapes create the illusion of many ridges inside the mountain.
Once that layer dries, I go back in with even more pigment. I darken some of those triangles to make them stand out more.
This helps each shape look sharper and adds more contrast as if the light hits different surfaces.
To boost realism, I also:
- Add jagged edges going down both sides of the mountain, not just one side.
- Paint some shadows starting from the bottom of the mountain and reaching toward the middle.
- Include a few small shapes between the edges, which gives extra detail and makes the mountain feel more rugged.
This final mountain captures the look of light, shadow, and texture all in one scene.
In A Nutshell
Painting watercolor mountains doesn’t have to feel tricky or overwhelming. You can create beautiful, realistic scenes full of depth and light with just a few simple shapes and layering techniques.
Which method will you try first? Pick your favorite, practice the steps, and enjoy watching your mountain landscapes come to life—one layer, line, and shadow at a time.