How to Create Watercolor Landscape Art Using Midjourney

Even though I am not an expert, creating art has always been a fulfilling experience for me. One of my favorite styles is watercolor art. It has a way of bringing a gentle, dreamy touch to any image.

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with creating watercolor-style scenes using Midjourney. It’s surprisingly satisfying to bring the same soft gradients and textures of traditional watercolors into the digital space.

In this post, I want to share how you can create beautiful watercolor-style landscape art using Midjourney.

The Base Prompt

When using Midjourney to create watercolor-style art, a thoughtfully designed prompt is key. This sets the tone for the artwork and ensures the output aligns with the soft, flowing essence of watercolors. Over time, I’ve crafted a base prompt that works wonderfully for this purpose:

[Type of landscape, e.g., serene mountain valley, lush forest, desert dunes, coastal cliffs], painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones.

This prompt captures the spirit of watercolor paintings. Let’s break it down so you can see how each part adds something special to the final image.

1. [Type of landscape]

This is where you describe the scene you want to create. The more specific you are, the better. For example:

• A tranquil mountain valley.
• A glowing autumn forest.
• Towering redwoods in morning mist.

The description sets the foundation for the composition and atmosphere.

2. “Painted in a delicate watercolor style”

This phrase ensures the image takes on the soft and flowing characteristics of watercolors. Midjourney interprets this as light, airy strokes and a slightly organic texture that mimics traditional watercolor techniques.

3. “Soft pastels, light washes, and gradients”

Here’s where the color scheme and blending come in. Soft pastels create a gentle, calming palette, while light washes and gradients replicate the subtle color transitions often found in watercolor art.

4. “Subtle texture of watercolor paper”

This tiny detail adds depth to your artwork. Including the texture of watercolor paper gives the final image a realistic and tactile quality, even though it’s digital.

5. “Artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones”

This balances the image. “Artistic composition” guides Midjourney to arrange elements harmoniously, while “vibrant yet gentle tones” ensures the colors stand out without being overwhelming.

With this base prompt, you can easily create stunning scenes. Feel free to modify each part to suit your vision—whether that’s adding weather effects, changing the time of day, or emphasizing a particular mood. This flexibility is what makes it so effective.

20 Example Prompts for Watercolor Landscape Art

Here are some prompts I’ve used to create watercolor-style scenes in MidJourney. Each one brings a unique atmosphere and visual charm, inspired by nature and imagination.

1. Tranquil coastal cliffs overlooking turquoise waters, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

2. Misty forest with towering pine trees, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

3. Serene mountain valley at sunrise, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

4. Lush meadow with blooming wildflowers, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

5. Snowy alpine landscape with a frozen lake, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

6. Calm river flowing through an autumn forest, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

7. Japanese cherry blossom garden in spring, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

8. Rocky canyon bathed in golden sunlight, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

9. Tropical island with crystal-clear lagoon, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

10. Magical forest with glowing mushrooms, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

11. Serene lake surrounded by golden reeds, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

12. Mountain ridge with dramatic clouds, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

13. Vibrant coral reef underwater scene, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

14. Windy wheat field under a stormy sky, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

15. Lush tropical rainforest with cascading waterfall, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

16. Tranquil canal in a quaint European village, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

17. Towering redwoods in a misty forest, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

18. Golden savanna under a dramatic sunset, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

19. Quiet village nestled in a snowy valley, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

20. Fairy-tale castle on a hilltop, surrounded by mist, painted in a delicate watercolor style, soft pastels, light washes and gradients, subtle texture of watercolor paper, artistic composition, vibrant yet gentle tones –v 6.1

These prompts serve as excellent starting points. You can tweak the descriptions, add new elements, or adjust the mood to create something that feels truly unique.

How to Improve Watercolor Landscape Prompts

Sometimes a prompt doesn’t turn out exactly as you imagined. Improving your watercolor prompts in MidJourney involves refining the details and experimenting with specific elements. Here are a few tips to elevate your prompts:

Be More Specific About the Landscape

Describe the environment with clear and vivid details. Instead of just “a mountain scene,” try “a towering snow-capped mountain with a glacial river running through a pine forest.” The more detailed your description, the more accurate the result.

Add Unique Features

Introduce distinctive features to make your artwork stand out. For example, include “golden sunlight filtering through tree branches” or “soft mist enveloping the valley.” These additions add depth and atmosphere.

Adjust the Color Palette

Mention specific colors if you want to steer the watercolor style in a particular direction. For example, “autumn tones of orange, gold, and deep red” or “calming shades of blue and green.” This helps create a cohesive mood.

Play with Artistic Terms

Use terms like “ethereal light,” “delicate brushstrokes,” or “dreamy composition” to evoke a specific artistic feeling. These phrases guide the AI toward creating art with a unique vibe.

Combine Multiple Elements

Create complexity by combining different natural elements. For example, “a serene lake surrounded by a dense forest, with distant mountains under a dramatic sunset.” Blending features adds richness to your scene.

Focus on Composition

If the image feels flat, add compositional cues like “foreground of wildflowers,” “rolling hills in the midground,” or “a hazy horizon.” These layers create depth and make the scene more dynamic.

Mention the Style of Watercolor

If you have a specific vision in mind, specify it. For instance, “vibrant and bold watercolor strokes” versus “soft and dreamy pastel washes.” Subtle tweaks like these make a big difference.

Incorporate Seasonal Elements

Seasons can dramatically affect the tone of a scene. Try phrases like “spring blossoms,” “snow-covered fields,” or “golden autumn leaves” to reflect a seasonal mood.

Experiment with Perspective

Change the point of view for a new look. Instead of a standard wide shot, try “a bird’s-eye view of a lush rainforest” or “a close-up of a forest path covered in moss.” Perspective adds uniqueness.

Keep Iterating

Don’t stop at the first attempt. Slight changes, like swapping a word or adding an adjective, can bring unexpected and delightful results.

Conclusion

Creating watercolor-inspired art in Midjourney is a rewarding way to bring breathtaking natural scenes to life. With the right prompts and some thoughtful refinements, you can craft visuals that feel truly unique and personal.

The beauty of working with Midjourney lies in its flexibility—every small tweak in your prompt can lead to something unexpected and stunning. So, keep refining, explore different styles, and have fun bringing your artistic ideas to life.