If you are new to watercolor and are looking for a step by step tutorial with pictures, then this is the post for you!
In this post, we have an easy watercolor flower – a rose – for you to try out and have a go at, even if you aren’t too comfortable with watercolors. Watercolor is all about the subtle strokes to create the intended flower.
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Sometimes we can over complicate watercolor because the end results look beautiful, however, it’s all about the right steps; knowing how much water to use, when to let paint dry before the next layer and when to know when to stop!
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art supplies
Below are some recommended art supplies which I have used for this painting.
Watercolor Paper – I personally think the type of paper you use for watercolors makes the biggest difference on your paintings. If you want your paintings to turn out well, I would invest in some heavyweight watercolor paper.
- Prized Paper – The long fibers in Arches natural white 100% cotton watercolor paper provide timeless…
- Superior Strength – A cylinder mold process distributes cotton fibers evenly to provide exceptional…
- Exquisite Quality and Functionality – All Arches watercolor pads for painting are pH-neutral with a…
- Cold press textured paper.
- Recommended for use with watercolor, acrylic, pen & ink, marker, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal,…
- Durable surface withstands repeated washes.
Watercolor inks – Instead of using watercolor tubes or pans, I like to use watercolor inks as these give a very loose and flowy look to the paintings.
- Set of 12, 0. 5 oz plastic bottles with droppers and mixing palette
- Fine art quality watercolor with the same brilliance and permanence as traditional tubes
- Brilliant, lightfast, transparent liquid watercolor for use on paper or canvas
- Available in 58 brilliant transparent colours and 2 opaque colours (white and gold) in 30 ml, 490 ml…
- The 30 ml bottle is fitted with a pipette
- The colour range includes the three primary colours lemon yellow (205), magenta (337) and sky blue…
Paint brushes – Last up, you will need a good set of different paint brushes to give different looks.
- Our watercolor sable brushes offer a wide range of shapes ( Pointed Rounds, Flats, Cat’s Tongue Oval…
- Excellent Colour Carrying Capacity – Nature Sable hairs of this watercolor paint brush set provide…
- Short and Comfortable Handles – Whether you are a professional painter looking for new art supplies…
Let’s take a look at how to paint a watercolor flower!
Step 1
Start off by adding a little bit of watercolor to your brush, but also add in water to not make the color too strong with your initial strokes.
With the side of your brush once you have your paint onto your brush, create light strokes to form petals.
Step 2
Next, add a little more paint to your brush and with the side of the brush, create another flick of petals. This side will create the darker side of the flower.
Step 3
Loosely carry on creating petals with your brush, don’t press down too hard with the brush but create easy strokes.
The bottom right of the flower is created by pulling the brush down a little and lifting it up again to create multi petal shapes.
Step 4
Continue by creating more petal shapes around and below the flower, but also add some extra paint into the middle of the flower to make it pop and show the shadows of the rose.
Step 5
Continue by filling out the rose with petals where you see fit.
Step 6
Next, put some green paint onto your brush, and create an angled stem all the way down with the tip of your brush.
Once you have got the stem in place, it’s time for the leaf. Start by putting the tip of your brush onto the paper, pull down and lift up again to create a leaf shape.
Step 7
Add another leaf on the right side for some extra greenery.
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Step 8
Paint some more leaves on the outer edges of the flower and a few more next to the bigger ones at the bottom.
Adding foliage always makes the flower look finished.
Finished Flower
Once it’s almost dried, you can add some extra petals onto the flower to give it more depth and there we have the finished rose! Let it dry and see it’s full beauty.
This is a very loose interpretation of a rose in watercolor, of course there are many ways to paint flowers in watercolor. Painting in this style isn’t too rigid and linear but open for interpretation and free-flowing.
If you liked this watercolor flower tutorial, be sure to check out some of our other watercolor related posts below:
17 Colorful & Loose Watercolor Flower Roses.
Loose Watercolor Flowers Ideas, 17 Stunning Artwork.
How To Paint A Loose Yellow Rose In Watercolor, The Easy Way.
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