Flower Painting 1
Materials
- Watercolor paper
-Watercolor palette
-Paintbrush (a round brush is a good general choice for this project)
-A container with clean water
-A reference photo of flowers or a real-life flower as a model
-Pencil
Optional: Paper towel or cloth for dabbing excess water if you need one
Allyson Hartt
Instructions
Step 1: Watch the Watercolor Techniques Video
Before you start, watch the tutorial video on watercolor techniques at this link:
This will give you a foundational understanding of watercolor painting techniques that you can apply in your flower artwork.
Step 2: Choose a Reference
Decide whether you'll be using a photo reference or painting from real-life observation. If using a photo, print it out (or use the print-outs from Ms. Barney) or have it displayed on a screen for easy viewing. A good place to find free photos to use as references:
https://unsplash.com/ or you can use your own photos you took of flowers!
ADD REFERENCES TO YOUR WEBSITE UNDER INSPIRATION
*DON'T USE A PHOTO FROM GOOGLE IMAGES BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN COPYRIGHTED AND IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM TO DRAW THEM
Step 3: Sketching
Lightly sketch your flowers onto the watercolor paper using a pencil.
Make sure to capture the general shapes and outline of the flowers, leaves, and stems. Remember, this doesn't need to be a detailed sketch. You'll be painting over it.
Examples:
Claudia Lowry
Dimas Bayu P
Maria @ArtDialog on Etsy
@KrazyKatLady2015
Step 4: Prepare Your Palette
Mix the desired colors onto your palette.
Have a separate container with clean water to rinse your brush.
Step 5: Begin Painting
Start with a light wash: Wet the area of the flower you are starting with, using clean water and a brush.
While the paper is still damp, introduce the color of your choice to the wet area. The color will spread and blend naturally due to the water.
Let each layer dry before adding another to avoid unwanted color mixing.
Step 6: Build Layers
Once the first wash is dry, you can start building up the color. The more layers you add, the deeper and more saturated the colors will become.
Remember to always let each layer dry unless you're purposely blending colors.
Step 7: Add Details
Once you've established your general colors and shapes, use a smaller brush or the tip of your round brush to add finer details, such as the veins in leaves, petal textures, and flower centers.
Consider using more saturated paint (less water) for these details to make them stand out.
Step 8: Evaluate and Adjust
Take a step back and look at your painting from a distance. This will give you a clearer perspective.
Adjust any areas you feel need more depth, brightness, or detail.
Step 9: Final Touches
Add any finishing touches you feel are necessary. This could include deepening shadows, brightening highlights, or clarifying edges.
Remember that watercolor paintings often look better when some areas are left lighter or more “unfinished,” as it gives the artwork a dynamic and airy feel.
Step 10: Allow to Dry and Put a Photo on your Website!
Let your artwork dry completely.
Take a picture of your work and post it on your website. Publish!
Tips:
Watercolor can be unpredictable. Embrace the process, and don’t be discouraged if things don’t go exactly as planned.
You can always practice specific techniques on a scrap piece of watercolor paper before applying them to your main artwork.
Remember the golden rule of watercolor: It's easier to add more paint later than to remove excess paint. Start light, and build your way up.
EXAMPLES:
Elisabeta Miksa
Allyson Hartt
Susie Hamilton
Benjamin and Genifer Sohr