Simply spring, flowers sing.

Annie Mason
Feb 28, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Feb 6, 2024

If you love spring flowers, these painting tutorials might get you started with trying some of your own.

A magnolia white bloom and green leaves — Magnolia pen & ink, and watercolor by Annie Mason

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1. Simple Flowers

Materials: (links are my favorites)

Simple flowers. It doesn't have to be that hard. MY MOST POPULAR Idea Pin on Pinterest:

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A Watercolor Lesson Even YOU Can Do

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What does that tell you? It tells me that people like easy, and "I can do this" art.

Simple Flowers samples

2. Zinnia

Work in simple shapes. Find a real zinnia or a zinnia photo (check copyright) and have it handy to use while you are painting. This flower has a big circle, a stem, and big leaves. Remember, it doesn't need to be "perfect." Have fun.

Zinnia flower by Annie Mason Winsor & Newton travel kit

3. Poppies

It is more detailed than the zinnia, but in this case, I start with a light pencil drawing and then trace over the lines with a black ink pen. You must let the ink fully dry before starting the watercolor paint. Add the bright reds and greens, and it's like adult coloring books.

Bright red poppies flowers green leaves — Poppies by Annie Mason. Pen, ink, and watercolor

4. Stencil flowers

You can always use stencil shapes for flowers. I used a template of petal shapes in this video.

Supplies: Pencil, Watercolor paints, brush, stencils.

Stencil flowers (0:24 sec)

Why...it's a butterfly. Stencil watercolor by Annie Mason Pen and ink, watercolor.

5. Go Abstract

A flower is a flower. The shapes change, colors change. Parts stay the same.

“Nature is a teacher whose wisdom we can learn, without which any human life is vain and incomplete." ~ William Wordsworth

Once you recognize this...pick up your paintbrush, sing, and dance:

6. Translucent Flowers

This last sample lets you see how wonderful watercolor's translucent quality can be. It will take a little more practice, and the most important factor is to let the watercolor DRY COMPLETELY before adding another layer. The result is a visual delight.

Waiting between layers is the key. (0:36 sec)