Sweet Peas Watercolor Painting Demo
In this floral watercolor painting demo video, I paint some sweet peas using a loose, impressionistic technique. The method involves painting all in one go without allowing time for the painting to dry in between steps.
The size of the paper I’m using is 5.5″Wx15″H. This is a quarter sheet that has been torn in half lengthwise to make a tall narrow piece. This is a nice format for the sweet peas.
To begin I did a simple sketch of the flowers. I begin in the background by using quinacridone gold that’s been toned down a little. I paint this loosely around the outline of the flowers and leaves. I splatter a little paint before starting on the flowers.
I use alizarin crimson and cerulean blue for the flowers. I put this color in the flower areas leaving plenty of white showing. I then use a color that I seldom use, Opera by Holbein. It’s a hot pink color that’s perfect for these sweet peas.
Moving on to the leaves, I mix up a green using quinacridone gold, cobalt blue and cerulean blue. I quickly put in some leaf shapes. Because I’m painting this all-in-one-go or alla prima, there will be some lost and found edges., Then I go back to the flower area and put in some light pink. To finish up, I placed some cooler, darker violet in the shadow areas of the flowers and then added a few finishing touches including some pink paint spatters!
This is a great method to use for any watercolor floral or still life. Painting alla prima forces you to remain loose. You have no control over the wet areas. This is a good thing as the colors will blend and flow on their own. Also working in a limited time frame will also help you loosen up. It’s difficult to be detailed and methodical when you have a 10 minute time limit.
So try this painting on your own. Set your stopwatch or egg-timer and have fun. Let the paint fly!
Paint colors used:
- Quinacridone Gold
- Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- Cerulean Blue
- Cobalt Blue
- French Ultramarine Blue
Beautiful painting and photos (which I successfully downloaded: thank you!).
I enjoy painting all prima, and flowers are the perfect subject for it.
Thanks Laura!
Vinita, I love how you painted this lovely sweet peas watercolor. It’s just beautiful. The way the dark lines flow upwards coupled with the fact that you chose a tall and thin paper to paint on gives me the feeling I get from looking at an oriental style painting. Very nice. I can’t wait to try it for myself!
Peter .
Thanks Peter! Let me know when you get a chance to try it on your own.
Really enjoying your blog–I’ll check back often. I added you to my blogroll. You’re doing a great job here! Keep it up!
Thanks for adding a link Sue!
Your demonstrations are something I am looking forward too. I love the sweet peas you’ve painted this month.
One question though, which size has the paper you painted on?
Thanks! The size of the paper I’m using in the video is 5.5″W x 15″H.
Thanks, that would be 14 cm by 38 cm for most of us in Europe.
Us darn Americans and our inches. I don’t think we’ll ever give them up, ha ha! I’ll try to remember that the majority of the world wisely uses the metric system
-,” I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives great information ;~;
I’m jealous and die to be able to paint like you, everything seems so easy
bullet head,
I like your post. Good job!