Learn how to paint watercolor flowers and more step by step with lessons from award-winning artist Anna Mason. Start with how to choose a reference photo, set up your workspace and outline your subject matter: a rose. With your outline complete, see how to create petals by layering tones from light to dark. Next, paint a lifelike stamen and build skills for balancing tones. Move on to rendering a lovely flower bud and get tips for avoiding muddy colors, increasing contrast and creating highlights that add depth to your work. Expand the number of greens on your palette as Anna guides you through painting convincing leaves, stems and thorns. Plus, discover tricks for finishing your painting beautifully by establishing crisp edges, using color-correcting techniques and refining the level of contrast in your piece.
Class Sessions
Working With Watercolor
23:17
Meet Anna Mason and get started discovering the simplicity behind painting with watercolors. Develop your painter's eye with watercolor basics as Anna helps you uncover the secret to layering watercolors. You'll also learn her brush techniques for painting fine details. Think small!
Preparing to Paint
21:30
Set up your workspace for success! Anna will provide techniques for taking the best reference photo to work from, no fancy camera required. Then get started working on a realistic pencil outline of a flower by either tracing or using Anna's measurements technique for an accurate rendering.
Painting the Petals
30:30
Start painting petals with Anna's layering technique. Begin by placing the lightest pink tones, then move to your darker pinks and finally your midtones to gradually build up color. You'll finish by filling gaps and refining your contrast.
Painting the Stamen & Reassessing Petals
22:13
Begin painting a realistic-looking stamen to add color variation to your painting! Learn the importance of order in watercolor painting and building up tone throughout the painting process. After finishing the stamen, you'll reassess the petal tones and balance the darkness of the petals.
Painting the Bud
21:53
Start painting a flower bud by layering tones light to dark. Anna will teach you how to avoid making mud out of your color choices. Use greens and reds to add tones to the sepals for clarity and deep contrast. Finally, gain confidence in your contrasts and explore how to use gouache for brilliant highlights.
Painting the Leaves & Stem
22:23
Create a variety of greens to cover the leaves, stems and thorns for a natural-looking finish. Layer the dark tones on top of the dried lighter tones using Anna's layering technique. You'll fill in the midtones to create the veins and juggle the rest of the hues to create a smooth, finished look.
Finishing Details & Assessing Contrast
19:10
Add final key details to make your painting look natural. Anna demonstrates how easy it is to make your details pop for a realistic finish. Learn to make darks richer and help details shine through with Anna's techniques for color correcting. Then assess the big-picture contrast of your painting.
Your Instructor
Anna Mason
Anna Mason is a watercolorist specializing in big, bold, botanical subjects. After making a huge career change to paint full-time 10 years ago, she's been honored with an RHS Gold Medal for Botanical Art and the Grand Prize by International Artist Magazine. In recent years, Anna has made it her mission to teach her unique watercolor techniques in an easy-to-understand way by contributing to Artists & Illustrator Magazine in the U.K., writing The Modern Flower Painter (Search Press) and teaching on Craftsy.
Bonus Material
Realistic Watercolors Step by Step – Resources
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
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