15 Gorgeous Watercolor Tattoos to Show Off Your Artsy Side

Wendelle Co
Apr 24, 2016

There’s no art form more romantic than watercolor painting. The soft brush strokes and colorful palette are more than enough to send any DIY gal’s heart a flutter. And while minimalist design tattoos are always trending, some of us are looking to go a bit bolder — in a delicate sort of way. Enter these whimsical watercolor tattoos, perfect for making a statement and showing off your softer side. Scroll through these 15 gems and find inspiration for your next tat.

1. Constellation: Behind every stunning constellation is an even grander myth. Tell a story with a tattoo that’s meaningful to you.

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수채화 일러스트 이미지와 라인꽃😊 . #tattoo#tattooist#tattooistsol#솔타투#lettering#soltattoo#color#colortattoo

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2. Pink Flamingo: Not afraid to stand out from the crowd? Wear a watercolor interpretation of your favorite exotic bird. Choose a discreet placement for an HR-friendly adornment.

3. Star Gazing: Get an ink that’s out of this world. Whether you’re an avid stargazer or you’re still obsessed with Sailor Moon, channel those celestial vibes with a watercolor galaxy tattoo.

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Exquisita flor de amapola. Exquisite poppy flower . Consultas por mensaje privado. Inbox. #misshask #tattos #tattoo #tat #tattooed #tattooartist #tattoolife #tattoolove #amapola #flores #flower #flowertattoo #watercolortattoo #watercolor #watercolour #colortattoos #uio #quito #tattooquito #topclasstattooing

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4. Flower: Never let those winter blues get you down. Make spring happen on the daily with a front-and-center floral tattoo.

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: Pisces + fish 🐠 물고기자리 . #tattooistbanul #tattoo #tattoos #TattooSupplyBell #equillatera #pisces #constellationtattoo #fishtattoo #colortattoo #tattoomagazine #tattooartist #tattoostagram #tattooart #tattooinkspiration #타투이스트바늘 #타투 #물고기자리 #별자리타투

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5. Pisces: Pisces are said to be compassionate, gentle and artistic. Do your astrological sign proud with an artsy homage to your birth sign.

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푸른바다를 품은 고래가 좋은 주인을 찾아갔습니다. 여리여리 하지만 마음은 한없이 넓은 그녀와 닮았습니다:) Whale cherishing blue ocean found good one. It just looks like her who has good heart:) #고래타투 #수채화타투 #수채화 #아로새기다타투 #타투 #아낙림 #whaletattoo #whale #watercolor #watercolortattoo #tattoo #tattoowork

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6. Whales: She’s the Lorelei to your Rory! That right, we’re talkin’ about your mom. Celebrate Mother’s Day — and the sacred bond between mother and child — with a heartwarming pair from the animal kingdom.

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Pastel tattoo by @magdalena_bujak #wowtattoo #instatattoo #tattooist #tattoodesign #watercolortattoo #flowertattoo

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7. Bouquet: Celebrate a moment in full bloom. This bright, luscious floral tat is perfect for marking a particularly meaningful time in your life — plus it’s just plain gorgeous.

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: Crown + watercolor 👑 . . #tattooistbanul #tattoo #tattooing #TattooSupplyBell #crown #crowntattoo #watercolor #equillatera #watercolortattoo #tattoomagazine #tattooartist #tattoostagram #tattooart #tattooinkspiration #타투이스트바늘 #타투 #왕관타투 #수채화타투

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8. Crown: We’re loving this spin on the watercolor trend. Contrast a monochromatic tat with a splash (or two) of color for a look that’s as multifaceted as you are.

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오묘한 색의 해파리🎨 . Jellyfish . @itsjustleeagain . #tattoo#tattooist#tattooistsol#솔타투#lettering#soltattoo#color#colortattoo#타투#jellyfishtattoo

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9. Jellyfish: That girl is pretty and dangerous. Flaunt your don’t-mess nature with a symbol that shows you’re more than just a pretty face.

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GolondAB #tattoo #tatuajes #bird #color #fullcolor #ave #volar #ab #watercolor

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10. Bird: What’s more freeing than taking flight? Put your free spirit on display with a brightly colored soaring bird.

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😸 #tattoo #cat #cattattoo #wctattoos #watercolortattoo #watercolor #geometrictattoo #geometric #thinkbeforeuink #tatted #inked #girlswithtattoos #bestgirlytattoo #Poznan #Polska #Poland #jazztattoo #jazztattoopoznan

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11. Cat: Cat lovers, this one’s for you! Wear your feline love on your sleeve (or your thigh), and show everyone where your heart always lies.

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Semicolon ; #tattoo #inked #semicolontattoo #watercolortattoo

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12. Semicolon: A semicolon isn’t just for punctuation. Bring awareness to mental health issues with a watercolor tat inspired by The Semicolon Project.

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Little watercolour bun head 🐰it was lovely to meet both of you, looking forward to next time! 😄 #watercolours #watercolourtattooartist #watercolourtattoo #rabbit #rabbittattoo #origami #middlesbrough #tattoo

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13. Rabbit: Geometric tats take an adorable turn with this watercolor-infused rabbit tattoo. This cute inspo will have you hopping to the tattoo parlor ASAP.

14. Triangle: Torn between a geometric and watercolor tattoo? Don’t limit yourself! Opt for a fun hybrid of the two to show off both your artistic and edgy sides.

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A few months ago, I've got an idea to make a tattoo, that would reflect connection between twins and to be honest, I did not expect that someone will hear my call. Lisa and Marika were first twins I've ever tattooed and I'm really happy about the result! When we were starting the design, I split notes for every twin separately and started to put questions to them. After the third question I realised it won't be an easy task. Everytime I put a question, they look at each other and said yes or no and this was my main concept in the design, where sisters have a reflection of her sister connected by spine. And becase I loved this work so much, I'm looking for more identical twins, triplets, Siamese twins and so on.. Thank you Lisa and Marika! And small message from Lisa and Marika: "We came across Ondrash's amazing art while looking for a tattoo to celebrate our first 30 years together as TWINS! Our tattoo represent how we feel about our relationship and our unique bond. When we our look meets, we feel synchronised, as there would be an invisible line that connects our minds. Our tattoo can't describe our feelings better - different individuals but special circular connection. Ondrash did an amazing job with transforming our chaotic ideas into ink and we can't be more excited about it! Lisa & Marika

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15. Landscape: Watercolor doesn’t always have to be so sweet. Go bold (and abstract) with an awe-inspiring surrealist landscape tat.

What watercolor inks do you have your eye on? Follow us on Pinterest for more colorful + fun tattoo inspo.

Master the Art of Watercolor with This 3-Class Bundle

Want to learn watercolor on your schedule? In this three-class bundle, you’ll get access to on-demand classes that you can take at your own pace. In our new Watercolor Lover Bundle, you’ll start with an introduction class, and work your way up to digitization to create all kinds of watercolor artwork.

You’ll get access to these three watercolor classes for just $61 (originally $87):

  • Intro To Watercolor Painting
  • Watercolor Lettering + Illustration
  • Watercolor Painting + Digitization

You’ll start with the basics by learning how to work with watercolors to paint florals. Then, in the second class, you learn how to incorporate lettering into your watercolor skills. And lastly, our third class will show you how to create watercolor fruit slices, but you’ll take it to the next level by digitizing them to create colorful patterns in Adobe Photoshop.

Here are a few more details about each class:

INTRO TO WATERCOLOR PAINTING: In this class, you’ll start with a basic introduction to watercolor supplies, brush up on color theory, and then put it all into action by creating your own flower arrangement one petal at a time. Your awesome instructor, Jenna Rainey, will be guiding you every step of the way. After taking this class, you’ll know how to:

  • Build a custom watercolor palette using the principles of color theory
  • Properly hold your paint brush and create the outline of florals using different brush strokes
  • Fill-in and use shading techniques to bring your florals to life on paper
  • Use Rainey’s tips for bleeding watercolor together and a simple way to fix mistakes

WATERCOLOR LETTERING AND ILLUSTRATION: Let’s combine some of our favorite things. In this class, you’ll learn how to use watercolors to combine illustrations and florals with lettering. Yes, please! Plus, your instructor, Valerie McKeehan, will be teaching you all of her techniques and tips to create beautiful watercolor designs. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to :

  • Layout a cohesive design using anchor points, margin lines, and more
  • Use a Micon pen to add in details to your watercolor illustrations
  • Work with watercolor to add embellishments and quotes into your final design

WATERCOLOR PAINTING AND DIGITIZATION: This painting class is great for both beginner and intermediate watercolor artists! In it, you’ll learn how to paint a variety of colorful fruits, including vibrant blood oranges, lemons, and strawberries. But you’re not done there! Your instructor, Susan Chiang, will also be showing you how to digitize your watercolor artwork in Adobe Photoshop. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to :

  • Use the three most popular watercolor techniques
  • Paint colorful fruit slices with intricate details
  • Import your artwork for digitization in Adobe Photoshop
  • Create digital elements from your paintings to arrange your artwork the way you want it

And don’t forget to scoop up your class supplies. For all the classes, you’ll need the following:

For the full supply lists, make sure you take a glance at the Materials section for each class.

Loving on bundles? Good news — There’s more! Check out our curated collection of bundles hand-picked with you in mind. They have our top performing classes bundled up so you can save big!

Ready to enroll in this bundle? Make sure to share your final projects by tagging us on Instagram and using the hashtag #bcclasses. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

illustrationonline classeswatercolorhand lettering

Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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Peggy Dean Is Back To Teach You How To Create A Quaint Illustration of Your Home

Capture your home or apartment building in a unique way by learning how to illustrate with line drawing techniques. In our Line Drawing: Illustrating Your Home online class, you’ll use loose, playful lines to sketch out the structure and details of your home. Then, you’ll add a pop of color to your illustration by learning how to apply a watercolor wash to your design.

Taught by student favorite, Peggy Dean, in her second line drawing course she’s going to teach you how to create an illustration of the place you call home. Your new skills will help you create a unique art piece to use as decor or as a gift to family and friends.

ENROLL IN THIS CLASS TODAY!

But hurry! For a limited time, you can get this class for 25% off. This offer ends on 12/16. Enroll in Line Drawing: Illustrating Your Home online class today.

Your final project will have you sketching out your home, looking something like this:

And then you’ll add a watercolor, to make your design look like this:

After taking this class, you’ll know how to:

  • Let loose and start drawing without things looking perfect
  • Use shapes to sketch out the structure of your home or building
  • Find the small details of your house and add them to your illustration
  • Add a watercolor wash to your house, bushes, a sidewalk, and more!

You’ll be able to use your skills to illustrate all kinds of things, including interiors, landscapes, cityscapes, and more!

So what are you waiting for? Enroll in our Line Drawing: Illustrating Your Home online course today!

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WHICH Movie Had Kate Winslet "Sh—ing" Herself?!

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

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Here's A New Look At Florence Pugh's Return As Yelena Belova

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.

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