Summer is here; your sketchbook can take you places even if you stay indoors. Why not paint a bright sunflower field right from your desk?
In this tutorial, I walk you through each step of how I create a loose and vibrant watercolor sunflower landscape. Grab your paints and sketchbook—let's travel together through art.
Contents
Planning the Sunflower Landscape Composition
Before I begin painting, I always take a moment to plan the layout. This makes the process more enjoyable and less stressful.
I divide the scene into three main parts. First is a hill full of sunflowers in the front. Behind that is a distant field of smaller sunflowers. And finally, there's the sky above it all.
I sketch just a few circles. These circles represent the brown centers of the sunflowers.
This step gives me a better idea of where I want to place my bigger flowers, closer to the front. Keeping the sketch loose lets me stay flexible when I start painting.
Painting the Foreground Sunflowers
Once the sketch is ready, it's time to dive into color. I always begin with the most prominent flowers in the front.
I mix sepia and a little yellow ochre to paint the center of the first sunflower.
While the paint is still wet, I go in with yellow for the petals. This creates a soft, beautiful blend where the brown bleeds slightly into the yellow.
I try to be very loose here, aiming to get the flower proportions right. Then, I add a second flower behind the first one.
This creates a nice sense of depth. For extra contrast, I layer on some darker yellow over the petals.
Next, I mix a darker green to paint the stems and leaves. I keep my brushwork free and relaxed—this part is more about creating shapes than fine detail.
Now, I paint a flower that's facing downward. To show this angle, I use shorter petals around the top of the flower. This small change makes the composition feel more natural.
Then, I continue adding a few more flowers in the foreground. To bring in more color variety, I add touches of bright orange to some of the petals for a nice pop.
Using the same dark green, I paint brushstrokes in the white spaces to shape more leaves and stems. I add darker values near the bottom to create contrast.
Toward the top, I leave more white space around the flowers, which adds lightness and depth.
As I look over the greens, I notice that the dark green feels too cool. I add some sap green to warm up a few areas to fix this.
This small color shift makes a big difference and adds variation in hue.
While the paint is still wet, I use my fingernails to scratch lines into the paper. These scratches represent flower stems and help create a fun negative-space effect.
It's a simple trick that adds texture and visual interest.
Painting the Distant Sunflower Field
Now, it's time to move up the page and start painting the middle layer of the scene. This layer shows a field of sunflowers that's farther away.
I paint smaller flowers here to suggest they are farther in the distance.
I also make sure to vary the angle of each flower. Some face forward, others tilt to the side—this keeps the scene lively and realistic.
As I reach the top of the hill, the flowers become less detailed. At this distance, all we can see is a sea of yellow.
So, I fill the area with a yellow wash and use random brushstrokes to create loose, abstract flower shapes. I mix in touches of orange and yellow ochre for more interest.
While the yellow area is still wet, I drop in tiny dots of dark brown paint. These dots represent the flower centers.
It's essential to use a thick paint mix here so the brown doesn't bleed out too much.
I also use a stiff brush to splatter some of the brown paint. This creates a nice, random effect that mimics the look of dense flower fields.
I use a small brush to paint tiny petals around some brown dots to complete this section. This makes the flower shapes more believable without needing to be too detailed.
Working on the Second Page of the Sketchbook
Now, I move on to the second page. This part follows the same process.
The steps on this page are similar to the first. I use the same colors and techniques to stay consistent. It's relaxing to repeat the process.
I notice that the earlier brown splatters didn't turn out well. The paint was too watery, so it caused unwanted blooms. I wipe them off and try again.
This time, I use a thicker paint mixture for the brown dots. It works much better, with less bleeding.
Painting the Background Sky and Extra Details
With the sunflower fields done, I move on to the final section of the landscape—the sky.
Creating a Soft Blue Sky
I use baby blue paint and fill in the sky area. I love how this light blue complements the warm yellow of the sunflowers. I tilt the paper to create a softer blend and let the paint flow naturally.
Next, I use a small fine brush to paint a little hut and some trees in the background. These details are tiny, but they help tell a story and add charm to the composition.
Final Touches and Artistic Reflection
The landscape is almost finished, but I take one last look to refine the details.
I add a few more touches to any areas that need work. Then, for a final highlight, I splatter some bright orange paint. This gives the whole piece a lively finish and adds more texture.
This painting style is very relaxed and free. I enjoy the loose, freestyle approach—it's a lovely way to create without pressure. Now, I have another beautiful memory captured in my sketchbook.
Closing Words
Painting this sunflower field in my sketchbook feels like a mini summer escape. I love how each layer—from the bold foreground flowers to the soft sky—comes together to tell a sunny story.
This project is perfect if you're looking for a relaxing way to enjoy watercolor. Why not give it a try and see where your brush takes you next? I'd love to hear what landscapes you'd like to paint, too!