Blend Watercolor and Acrylics for Expressive Landscapes
Learn how to blend watercolor and acrylics to revive old paintings and create loose, expressive mixed-media landscapes.
Painting loose landscapes doesn’t have to be complicated. In this demo, I’m taking a “reject watercolor” and turning it into something fresh using heavy-body acrylics, mark making, and a little mixed-media chaos. I love using leftover paint and failed washes as a starting point because it frees me up creatively — nothing to lose, and everything to experiment with.
This technique is perfect if you want to loosen up your style, explore mixed media, or simply revive old paintings sitting in a drawer.
How I Build Loose Mixed-Media Landscapes
One of the biggest advantages of combining watercolor with acrylics is flexibility. You can instantly add opacity, texture, and contrast wherever the watercolor fell flat. I’ll often use scraps of leftover paint to create collage paper, then smear whatever’s left on the brush right onto the surface. Nothing gets wasted.
In this piece, I start with that abandoned watercolor and layer in thick acrylics to add structure around the house, trees, and crosswalk figures. I’m always thinking about design: busy areas vs. quiet spaces, larger shapes vs. smaller accents, and balancing chaos with calm.
Simple Ways to Add Texture and Interest
After building the main shapes, I scribble with graphite to add linear interest and break up overly smooth areas. These quick marks help the painting feel alive without over-working anything. Then I add tiny pops of highlight—just enough to make figures and edges stand out.
A little goes a long way. Once it starts to feel “almost done,” that’s usually the perfect moment to quit.
Upcycling Makes You Looser
If you’ve been holding onto discarded watercolors, this technique is a great way to give them new life. And honestly, knowing a piece started as a reject instantly makes me paint with more freedom. Try it—sometimes the best ideas come from the paintings you thought failed.
Want to go deeper with collage & mixed media?
👉 Explore the Mixed Media Hub
👉 Browse Collage Painting Ideas
👉 Dive into the Garage Collage Barrage
Supplies I Use All the Time
These are my go-to materials for almost every mixed media project I create. Do I add new ingredients occasionally? You betcha! But these are the go-to materials I rely on most. I know how they behave, how they layer, and how to get the best results from them.
- Acrylic Paints – I only buy heavy body for their thick texture and thin them with water for fluid glazing and washes. See my favorite set →
- Watercolors Paints – Great for transparent layers and unexpected color effects. Exact colors are below. Shop my watercolor picks →
- Acrylic Inks - Excellent way to add transparent layers to mixed media artwork. Mixes well with everything! See the inks →
- Synthetic Acrylic Brushes - You need a variety and I have listed my go-to's below. I use Princeton brands, very dependable! See the brushes →
- Watercolor Brushes - Get a decent grade but avoid all-natural as synthetic blends have come a long way. Shop my picks →
- Collage Papers – A mix of pattered, and printed paper you see me use is from Hobby Lobby, and it's usually found in the scrapbook section. Browse paper packs →
- Palette Knives – Good to have around for scooping paint and smearing techniques. See what I use →
- Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - Comes in many small and medium sizes up to 20x16". Love em'. Best bulk stretched canvas →
- Mixed Media Paper – Sturdy enough to handle wet and dry techniques. Strathmore is the way to go! Best paper for mixed media →
- Watercolor Paper - Top choice is 140 lb. cold press by Fabriano Artistico. Cost effective and crispy white. Best watercolor paper →
- Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Crayons – Perfect for adding scribbles and linear interest to mixed media art. Check them out →
- Gator Board - Best firm boards you can find! Buy a large sheet and cut out down. These are used as backing for my paper when I paint. Check it out →
- Mod Podge - Reliable and affordable adhesive for paper, thick and thin. And get the Matte! View the glue →
My preferred hues; Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light (or Medium), Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White
My preferred acrylic brushes; #12 Large round, 2x Medium rounds, 2x Detail, or liner brushes, Large and medium fan brush, a few medium size bristles and old, small house painting brush for glue.
