How can you create the illusion of a drop of water in a watercolor painting? There are many water droplet how-to videos on YouTube, but this quick tutorial by E Perry Art shares a simple five step method in just 2 minutes and 23 seconds. The steps:

• Create the background and let it dry.
• Drop water in a droplet shape on the background to pull up color
• Outline highlights and the drop using a darker version of the background color.
• Create a gradient by pulling that color down with a wet brush within the drop.
• Add the drop’s shadow on the opposite side of the highlights.

Watch the beginner-friendly video above to see a demonstration of the easy-to–follow technique.

Then watch these videos for more art activities:
• How to paint layered petals with watercolors
• Painting whimsical watercolor birds, a tutorial
• How to draw towns and cities for fantasy maps
• How to turn garden clippings into striking insect sculptures
• Create a construction set with interlocking slots, a Tinkering Studio DIY project

Bonus drops video: What do raindrops really look like?