3 Easy Ways to Paint Watercolor Flowers
Brush up on your watercolor skills with these flower painting techniques.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2017/3/15/0/HGTV-Handmade-2017_Karen-Kavett-horizontal.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1612368738514.jpeg)
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
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
![Finish Your Lilac Watercolor Lilac with Purple Petals and Teal Stem](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-4-2-flower-done.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996741.jpeg)
Paint Stems
To paint a lilac flower, use a fine-tipped brush and teal paint to paint stems that form a half-circle.
![Paint Stems Teal Flower](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-1-1-stems.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968997053.jpeg)
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.
![Paint Petals Purple Watercolor Flower with Teal Stem](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-2-1-flower.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996941.jpeg)
Add More Stems
Add more stems in a lighter green color to give more depth to the flower.
![Add More Stems Painting Green Stems on Purple Flower](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-3-1-stems.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968997051.jpeg)
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.
![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.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-4-1-finish-flower.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996942.jpeg)
![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.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-4-2-flower-done.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996741.jpeg)
Bluebell
![Add Stems Blue Bluebell Flor and Purple Lilac](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-6-2-flower-done.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968997737.jpeg)
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).
![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. Add more blue paint to the tips of each petal.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-5-1-petals.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996653.jpeg)
![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. Add more blue paint to the tips of each petal.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-5-2-petals.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996518.jpeg)
Add Stems
Use green paint and a smaller brush to add stems under each petal (Image 1) to finish your bluebell flower.
![Use green paint and a smaller brush to add stems under each petal to finish your bluebell flower.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-6-1-stems.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996591.jpeg)
![Use green paint and a smaller brush to add stems under each petal to finish your bluebell flower.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-6-2-flower-done.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968997737.jpeg)
Poppy
![Add Center Orange Watercolor Poppy with Yellow and Black Center](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-9-3-finished.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968995991.jpeg)
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).
![To paint a poppy, load up a large brush with water and red paint and draw a circular flower shape. Use a paper towel or washcloth to soak up the excess water.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-7-1-outline.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586969000528.jpeg)
![To paint a poppy, load up a large brush with water and red paint and draw a circular flower shape. Use a paper towel or washcloth to soak up the excess water.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-7-2-outline.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996444.jpeg)
![To paint a poppy, load up a large brush with water and red paint and draw a circular flower shape. Use a paper towel or washcloth to soak up the excess water.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-7-3-outline.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996397.jpeg)
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).
![Use more red paint to darken the edges of the flower.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-8-1-edges.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996132.jpeg)
![Use more red paint to darken the edges of the flower.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-8-2-edges.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996084.jpeg)
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.
![Blend yellow paint into the red and add dots of black paint in the center to finish your poppy.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-9-1-center.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996090.jpeg)
![Blend yellow paint into the red and add dots of black paint in the center to finish your poppy.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-9-2-center.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996011.jpeg)
![Blend yellow paint into the red and add dots of black paint in the center to finish your poppy.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-9-3-finished.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968995991.jpeg)
Keep Painting!
Paint as many flowers as you like to fill up your page and practice your favorites to truly make them your own.
![Paint as many flowers as you like to fill up your page and practice your favorites to truly make them your own.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-10-1-all-flowers.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968996168.jpeg)
![Paint as many flowers as you like to fill up your page and practice your favorites to truly make them your own.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/4/15/0/Original_HGTV-Handmade_How-to-Paint-Watercolor-Flowers_watercolor-10-2-all-flowers.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1586968995361.jpeg)
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](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/video/0/02/026/0262/0262651.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.720.85.suffix/1660748680503.jpeg)