How to Paint Flower Petals

Children love to paint flowers because of their beauty and simplicity of design. For adults, painting flowers on a more sophisticated level really isn't much more difficult, although it does take keen observation of the flower and a little more thought. This may be done in any medium, although most painters use oil, acrylic or watercolor.

Draw the outline of the flower blossom on your canvas or paper.

Note that using watercolor is different from using oil paint or acrylic because watercolor is a translucent medium. If you will be using watercolor, draw lightly so the lines will not show through the painting.

Mix the base color for the flower petal on your palette. Some flowers are vibrant; others have soft coloring. It is important to match the hue of the flower. If you are working from a photograph, try holding the picture up to the palette to ensure the best match. Flick your eyes back and forth between the petal and the color on the palette.

Dip your paintbrush in the paint color on the palette, and apply it to canvas or paper. Start from the inside of the flower petal and paint outward to the edges so that the brushstrokes move from the inside out, along the contours of the petal. Repeat this step for each flower petal. For overlapping petals, paint the bottom petals first and move upward, covering the bottom petals with the top petals as you progress.

Note that if you are using watercolor, you cannot effectively cover one color with another. Paint cautiously. Do not entirely cover the petals with the base color unless the petals are that color only. Additionally, if there are highlights on the petals, paint light layers and build slowly, leaving the petals light in the places where the highlights are located.

Examine the subject, and note the color variations on the petal. Mix the appropriate colors on your palette. For shadows on the petal, it’s best not to use black. Try using shades of blue or brown—refer to the subject for the best choice. Add the blue or brown to your base color with discretion. The shadows on your flower petal will likely not be deep.

Use a detail brush to paint the color variations on the petal where appropriate. Some flower petals shift color from the inside of the petal out, moving from one color to another in a gradient, some are spotted, and some have stripes. Paint details on the flowers as necessary.