Watercolor Sunset Postcard

Wherever you’re headed this summer, why not send someone a handmade postcard from your destination (or create one for yourself as a souvenir)! Here’s how you can create a simple but colorful watercolor sunset postcard using water-based markers. Take a look!

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How to Make a Watercolor Sunset Postcard

This pretty, vintage-style postcard is easy to create, with the help of some washi tape! Just grab the supplies listed below, and let’s get started. I’m also sharing this project on the Tombow blog today, so you can find all the information there as well.

Materials

Maruman New Soho Series Sketchbook – B6
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: Tropical 10-pack
Tombow MONO Drawing Pen, 06
Tombow MONO Graph Mechanical Pencil
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen, Soft Tip
Washi Tape (3mm, 8mm)
Paintbrush and water or aqua brush
Non-absorbent surface, like a Blending Palette or a plastic baggie
Ruler

Image contains a colorful watercolor sunset postcard with a palm tree silhouette and the words “greetings from Florida.” Two scallop shells sit nearby along with three markers.

Instructions

Divide your paper into six sections.

Use 8mm washi tape to secure your postcard to a piece of cardstock and create a border. Then, with the help of a ruler, divide the paper into six sections, separated by 3mm washi tape.

The washi tape creates a mask, which means that when we apply ink to the paper, the areas that are covered by the tape will remain white.

Image contains a piece of watercolor paper secured to a piece of cardstock and divided into six sections with washi tape.

Add color.

Scribble ink from the marker onto a non-absorbent surface like a plastic sandwich baggie. Then, use a wet paintbrush or aqua pen to pick up the ink from that surface. Now, you can “paint” with the ink, using a different color to fill in each taped-off section.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a paintbrush and filling in sections of watercolor paper with colored ink. An orange marker sits nearby.

Use this technique to color the first three sections red, orange, and yellow (leaving a semicircle open for the sun), then use three shades of blue to fill in the rest. Then, paint an orange sun in the yellow section. Let it dry completely, then carefully remove the washi tape.

Image contains a piece of watercolor paper taped to a large piece of cardstock with washi tape. The sections are filled in with watercolor ink to create a sunset. A paintbrush and colored markers sit nearby.

Add a silhouette.

Draw the outline of a palm tree (or whatever else you’d like on your postcard) with a MONO Drawing Pen. If you’re vacationing somewhere that’s not tropical, you can use a different kind of tree, or something else that better fits your destination.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a MONO Drawing Pen and sketching the silhouette of a palm tree onto a watercolor sunset postcard.

Color the shape black to create the silhouette effect.

Image contains a close up view of the silhouette of a palm tree drawn on top of a watercolor sunset.

Hand letter a message.

You can write in whatever style you like. Here’s a quick tutorial on faux calligraphy if you’d like the brush lettered effect.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a fudenosuke marker and lettering “greetings from” onto a painted postcard.

All that’s left to do is write a message on the other side and send it, or to keep and display it as a souvenir!

Image contains a watercolor sunset postcard with a palm tree silhouette and the words, “greetings from Florida” on a wooden desktop. Two scallop shells and three markers sit nearby.

Crafting Tips

Be sure to use watercolor paper for your project. Other types of paper aren’t specially made to absorb water and will curl or even tear.
A water brush is a great tool for this watercolor technique, because the barrel full of water continually keeps the brush wet as you work.
Make sure your painted areas are completely dry before drawing or writing on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t have washi tape?

It’s easy to find some at the craft/hobby store or online. Or, you can use painter’s tape, which works in a similar way. Normal scotch tape, masking tape, etc. are not recommended because they will rip the paper when removed.

What if my destination doesn’t have water, but I still want to do the project?

Instead of three shades of blue that represent water, use three shades of green for the ground.