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# Experimental Watercolor Trees: Mixed Media Ideas to Explore
- URL: https://craftedbyrobert.com/experimental-watercolor-trees-mixed-media/
- Published: 2026-10-24T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T12:00:00.000Z
- Description: Stop painting watercolor trees to get them right. Explore instead with watercolor mixed with crayon, collage, acrylic, and graphite to find your own style.
- Author: Robert Joyner
- Tags: Mixed Media, Watercolor

Don’t paint trees with watercolor. Paint trees with watercolor **to explore.**

That’s a very different mindset. In this experimental watercolor demo, I’m not trying to make a finished piece of art. I’m mixing watercolor with crayon, collage, acrylic, and graphite to see what happens, because that’s where growth happens.

### Paint to explore, not to finish

This is where you stop painting what’s expected and start making something unique and yours. Trees are a great subject for it: simple enough to play with, forgiving enough to get weird.

### What I’m mixing in

- **Watercolor** for the base washes
- **Crayon** for broken, textured marks (the lime green in the first study)
- **Collage** for extra shapes and layers
- **Acrylic** for opaque touches
- **Graphite** for loose, scribbly lines

Don’t worry about the exact combination. Try different mixes and see which ones surprise you.

[![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ee/ee/eeee3f8a-028a-4efa-99e3-5af9bc505602/content/images/2026/10/learn-mixed-media-painting-4.webp)](https://craftedbyrobert.com/learn-mixed-media/) 

****Want to Create Loose Mixed Media Art, Slacker?** Learn the fundamentals, experiment with collage and layers, and develop your own expressive style.

[👉 Learn Mixed Media With Me ](https://craftedbyrobert.com/learn-mixed-media/) 

### “Isn’t that a waste of paper?”

Some people will look at this and say it’s a waste of materials, expensive paper, just sketches. If that’s your mindset, this probably isn’t for you.

But this is where I found a tremendous amount of freedom. It’s where I discovered new ideas, new techniques, and new ways to see things.

### Why I stopped chasing styles

I’ve done it the other way too. I chased styles and tried to paint like other artists, and honestly it wasn’t that enjoyable. To me, making art is **emotion mixed with fundamentals and technique.**

The more I explore, the more freedom I find. The more freedom I find, the more expressive, original, and creative the work becomes. And at the end of the day, it’s a lot of fun.

### Try it yourself

Grab some scrap watercolor paper and paint a few trees. Add crayon, graphite, or a scrap of collage. Don’t aim for a good painting. Aim for a few new ideas.

Want to see how I use experiments like this in my teaching? That’s the heart of [The Deconstruction Lab](https://craftedbyrobert.com/courses/). And if you want a simple mixed media place to start, try my [easy collage project for beginners](https://craftedbyrobert.com/easy-collage-project-beginners-fruits-veggies/).

Learn Structure. Paint Loose.

**Construct. Deconstruct. Explore. Repeat.**

### Watercolor mixed media FAQ

**Can you mix crayon with watercolor?**  
Yes. Wax crayon resists watercolor, so you get broken, textured marks and bits of white showing through. Try it before or after the wash.

**Can you use acrylic and graphite with watercolor?**  
Yes. Graphite adds loose line work and acrylic adds opaque accents. Test on scrap paper to see how they behave together.

**How do I paint loose watercolor trees?**  
Use simple washes for the foliage, a few strokes for trunks, and let some marks stay rough. Add line work or crayon for variety.

**Is it okay to “waste” paper on experiments?**  
Absolutely. Experiments are where new ideas come from. Use scrap paper if cost bothers you.