3 Easy Ways to Paint Watercolor Flowers

Brush up on your watercolor skills with these flower painting techniques.

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June 07, 2021

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Learning how to paint with watercolors doesn't have to be intimidating. The most important thing when you're beginning with watercolors is to have the right supplies: watercolors and watercolor paper, a synthetic or a natural hair paintbrush, and a small dish of water and a cloth to blot up excess water. These three easy flowers will teach you the basics and set you up to paint an entire garden of beautiful blooms.

Materials + Tools

  • watercolor paint
  • watercolor paper
  • paintbrushes
  • cup of water
  • paper towel or washcloth
$20.99

This complete watercolor paint set has everything you need to get started: 72 vivid water color paints, paintbrushes, a watercolor paper pad, plus a palette for mixing and sponges for soaking up excess water and paint. It even comes with a color mixing chart, making it perfect for beginners.

Lilac

Watercolor Lilac with Purple Petals and Teal Stem

Finish Your Lilac

Add more paint to the flower until you are happy with how it looks. Use a paper towel or washcloth to pull up some of the excess water if necessary to create a blended look.

Paint Stems


To paint a lilac flower, use a fine-tipped brush and teal paint to paint stems that form a half-circle.

Teal Flower

Paint Stems

To paint a lilac flower, use a fine-tipped brush and teal paint to paint stems that form a half-circle.


Paint Petals


Dab a second brush onto the paper in an up and down motion. Layer different purple and blue paints together to create the flower design.

Purple Watercolor Flower with Teal Stem

Paint Petals

Dab a second brush onto the paper in an up and down motion. Layer different purple and blue paints together to create the flower design


Add More Stems


Add more stems in a lighter green color to give more depth to the flower.

Painting Green Stems on Purple Flower

Add More Stems

Add more stems in a lighter green color to give more depth to the flower.


Finishing Touches


Add more paint to the flower until you are happy with how it looks (Image 1). Use a paper towel or washcloth to pull up some of the excess water if necessary to create a blended look.

Bluebell

Blue Bluebell Flor and Purple Lilac

Add Stems

Use green paint and a smaller brush to add stems under each petal to finish your bluebell flower.


Draw Petals


To paint a bluebell flower, create petals by loading up a large brush with water and blue paint and pressing it down onto the paper (Image 1). Add more blue paint to the tips of each petal (Image 2).


Add Stems


Use green paint and a smaller brush to add stems under each petal (Image 1) to finish your bluebell flower.

Poppy

Orange Watercolor Poppy with Yellow and Black Center

Add Center

Blend yellow paint into the red and add dots of black paint in the center to finish your poppy.


Draw Flower Shape


To paint a poppy, load up a large brush with water and red paint and draw a circular flower shape (Images 1 + 2). Use a paper towel or washcloth to soak up the excess water (Image 3).


Darken Edges


Use more red paint to darken the edges of the flower (Image 1). Don't forget to darken the edges of the center of the flower (Image 2).


Add Center


Blend yellow paint into the red (Image 1) and add dots of black paint in the center (Image 2) to finish your poppy.


Keep Painting!


Paint as many flowers as you like to fill up your page and practice your favorites to truly make them your own.

More Watercolor Paint Projects

DIY Watercolor Pet Portraits

In just minutes, you can create a personalized piece of art that perfectly captures your furry friend's spirit.

Painting Watercolor Flowers
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