Join me for this watercolor rainbow tutorial, all about the story of Noah’s Ark. We’ll explore some lessons from Noah’s life, and talk about the hope we have in the Lord.
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Is it just me, or does life sometimes feel like a literal Noah’s ark situation?
Like, your coworkers are acting like a bunch of stinky animals stuck on a boat, testing your patience? Or, the rains (troubles) of life just won’t quit, drenching you for 40 days straight? Or, you’re stuck in a situation you don’t want to be in, waiting for the figurative ‘floodwaters’ to recede so you can get off the ‘boat’?
But what a powerful example Noah was, in his faithfulness and obedience to God in these not-so-ideal situations!
Noah could’ve said to God, “NO WAY am I gonna get on that ark and be stuck for months in a confined space with my family AND a bunch of literal animals!” But, he didn’t say that. He faithfully did what God asked, and ensured the survival of his family and the future of the human race (not to mention that of all the animals).
Obviously we can learn a lot from Noah, about patience, diligence, and trusting God in some crazy situations!
How to Paint a Watercolor Rainbow (Reflecting on Noah’s Ark)
I chose to focus on the rainbow in Noah’s story, because it represents everything good God had planned for Noah and all future generations. After 40 days of rain, and 150 days of waiting for floodwaters to recede, Noah was blessed to receive this promise from our Sovereign Lord: “When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.” (GENESIS 9:14-15, NLT)
But of course, it’s not just about there being no more floodwaters to destroy all life… this promise paved the way towards God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s about God’s mercy towards us, and the hope we have in Him.
So, with all that in mind, let’s paint a rainbow, shall we? Check out the full video tutorial below, or keep scrolling to see photos, supplies, and instructions…
Supplies
These are the watercolors and other art supplies I used in creating this page! Of course, if you have other watercolors on hand already, use whatever you have. But I do love how the metallics gave the rainbow extra *pop*. Also, the cloud stamp I used is no longer available, so I linked an alternative option. 😉
- Paul Rubens Metallic Watercolors
- Paintbrushes (I recommend a liner brush for the rainbow, and flat brush for the background)
- Cloud stamp (such as this one)
- Archival Ink pad (black)
- Archival Ink cleaner
- Faber-Castell Gelatos (optional, for background)
- Pigma Micron pen (black)
Instructions
If you want to follow along with the exact steps I took to create this Genesis 9 watercolor rainbow, here they are! But feel free to do your own thing, too: change up the colors, take different notes, etc. It’s YOUR creative Bible study time with God, so do whatever you feel led to do.
- OPTIONAL FIRST STEP: If you’re using a journaling Bible with thin paper, I highly recommend prepping your page with gesso first.
- To begin, stamp a cloud (or multiple clouds!) on your page. I used Archival Ink for this step, because it’s water-resistant, so it won’t run when you apply the watercolors.
- Trace a rainbow shape onto your page. I used a simple template, made by folding a piece of cardstock in half and cutting an arch to make the rainbow shape. Divide your rainbow into seven sections (or however many colors you plan to use).
- Now, it’s time to paint your rainbow! I used the “R.O.Y. G. B.I.V.” acronym to remember the colors (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). A liner brush is very helpful for this step, as is a cup of water to clean your brush in-between colors, and some scrap paper and a paper towel.
- Once the rainbow is complete, it’s time to paint the cloud. I chose a gray color for this step, and used the same liner brush.
- Next, paint a sky background! I used Gelatos for this step, but of course you could use the same watercolors you used for your rainbow. I chose a light blue, but you could also make your sky darker if you prefer.
- When you’re finished painting, all that’s left is to take some good notes! Think about all the things you admire about Noah, or that you want to praise God for (like His mercy), and make a list. Anything about the story of Noah’s Ark that really speaks to you, that you want to apply in your life, is good. I used a Pigma Micron pen for this step, but lots of other pens work well too like these Mr. Pen liners or some Gelly Rolls.
What lessons or takeaways did you glean from Genesis 9? There is so much to learn about Noah’s obedience to God, and God’s faithfulness and mercy towards Noah and all of humanity!
Hi! Thank you so much for visiting Divine Creative Love. I’m a Jesus-lovin’ girl, artist, designer, and general creative-at-heart. And, I have narcolepsy. I blog about faith in God, overcoming challenges, and creative topics such as Bible journaling. If you’re new here, be sure and subscribe to my list so you won’t miss anything!