Are you ready to paint a beautiful, simple watercolor flower? MarenaART will guide you step by step using easy techniques and tools you can find anywhere.
Whether you’re new to watercolor or just looking for a fun, relaxing project, MarenaART promises this one is simple, enjoyable, and perfect for all skill levels.
Let’s gather our materials and start creating something lovely together!
Contents
Gather the Materials
Before the artist starts painting this simple watercolor flower, the artist walks through the materials being used. These tools help create soft textures and beautiful blends—perfect for beginners!
For the paper, the artist uses:
- Centenaire watercolor paper. It’s 100% cotton, 300 gsm, and cold-pressed. This paper holds water well and gives a lovely texture to the painting.
For colors, the artist chooses White Nights watercolors in:
- Indigo
- Sepia
- Burnt Sienna
The artist also uses three brushes:
- PanArt No. 8 mop round brush
- Raphael No. 8 round brush
- PanArt No. 4 detail brush
To finish things off, the artist adds some gray colored pencil (almost black), white gouache, and a bit of salt to give the flower more texture.
Now that everything is set, let’s jump into painting!
Step 1: Paint the Main Flower
Let’s start painting the main flower. The artist keeps things simple and loose so it’s easy to follow, even for beginners.
Begin with a Light Spray of Water
First, the artist sprays some clean water on the paper. The artist doesn’t overthink this—just sprays randomly with a spray bottle. This step helps create beautiful effects later.
The water softens the edges and lets the paint bleed naturally, giving the flower a lovely, organic look.
Paint the First Petal
Now, the artist mixes Indigo and Sepia to get a rich, dark color. The artist uses that to paint the first petal, keeping things a little random.
The artist uses:
- The belly of the brush to press the paint down onto the paper
- The tip of the brush to add more pigment in certain spots
This way, the paint blends beautifully and creates soft floral textures. The artist doesn’t try to make the shape perfect—that’s the charm of this loose watercolor style.
Add Burnt Sienna for Warmth
Next, the artist brings in some Burnt Sienna. It mixes beautifully with the dark gray color already applied. The artist loves how this color combo looks—it gives the flower more depth and contrast.
Leave the Center White and Add Splashes
The artist makes sure to leave the center of the flower white. That highlight brings the flower to life. Then, the artist splashes some clean water and drops dark gray over the flower. This gives it a loose, fresh look.
Paint the Stem
Finally, the artist paints the stem using the same dark gray mix. The artist lets the water on the paper do its magic, watching the pigment bleed and form soft textures.
Step 2: Add Smaller Flowers and Finishing Touches
Now that the main flower is done, the artist likes to fill the space with a few tiny flowers and details. This makes the whole piece look more complete and fun.
Paint Small Flowers with a Light Touch
First, the artist paints the stem.
Next to the big flower, the artist paints a small branch with a few tiny blooms. There is already some water sitting on the paper from earlier, which is perfect.
The paint spreads softly into the water, creating beautiful pleats and bleeds the artist loves.
Using just the tip of the brush, the artist makes these little flowers. The shapes are simple and loose. The paint flows naturally because the paper has a lot of water. The artist lets it do its thing.
Connect the Flowers with Loose Stems
I connect the little flowers to the main flower using a smaller brush. But the artist doesn’t draw a solid line. Instead, the artist creates broken and loose lines. Not every flower has to connect directly. This keeps the painting feeling light and airy.
Add Color and Final Splatters
The artist picks up a bit of burnt sienna again and dabs it here and there on the smaller flowers—just tiny touches to bring some warmth and interest.
Then the artist adds more clean water splatters, especially now that some paint has started to dry. The artist also splatters more of that dark gray mix (indigo and sepia) for an extra layer of texture.
Step 3: Final Details and Enhancements
We’re almost done! It’s time to add some final touches to bring out the texture and give the painting more life.
Add Salt for Texture
The artist sprinkles a little bit of salt on the petals of the big flower. This step is fun and adds lovely texture when it dries. But it’s essential to let it dry naturally. Don’t use a hair dryer—otherwise, the salt effect won’t work.
Use Colored Pencil for Extra Detail
Once everything is completely dry, the artist takes a colored pencil. The artist doesn’t sharpen it, wanting the tip to be dull to create thicker lines. The artist likes the soft, spent look it gives.
The artist adds these pencil lines to the big flower and stem to give them more character. The artist doesn’t follow the exact watercolor shapes. The artist draws beside the petals, not directly over them. The artist also sketches a few tiny florals and stems with the pencil.
Finish with White Gouache Splatters
To wrap it up, the artist adds a few white gouache splatters and tiny details here and there. That little bit of white makes everything pop.
Now that we’ve added all the finishing touches, the painting feels complete and full of texture.
Wrapping Up
Painting this simple watercolor flower is a fun way for the artist to practice loose, natural techniques. With just a few materials and easy steps, the artist creates beautiful textures and details that bring the artwork to life.
Give it a try, enjoy the process, and watch your skills grow with each brushstroke!