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Watercolor Painting Tutorials

Wet-in-Wet Watercolor Flowers: Complete Bouquet Painting Tutorial

This 35-minute tutorial demonstrates wet-in-wet watercolor construction from foundation wash through final details. You'll learn the timing skills needed to control watercolor's natural flow while building complex floral forms and glass surface effects.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 3 min read
How to paint wet-in-wet flowers with watercolors

This 35-minute tutorial demonstrates wet-in-wet watercolor flower techniques and construction from foundation wash through final details. You'll learn the critical timing skills needed to control watercolor's natural flow properties while building complex floral forms and glass surface effects.

I'll admit flowers tend to be down the list of favorite things to paint. After all, they're completely opposite of the rustic harbors and gritty urban scapes I prefer when painting with watercolors. This demonstrates my construction approach - using systematic methods to build connection with any subject. Years later, I'm still connecting but I figure one morning I'll get up and flowers will be on my creative mind. Anyhow, video is below so hit play and check it out!

What You'll Master:

  • Foundation wash application and moisture management techniques
  • Strategic pigment timing - when paper conditions are right for each layer
  • Color saturation control from "tea" consistency through "honey" thickness
  • Building form through controlled bleeding and soft edge manipulation
  • Glass vase construction using negative space and reflection techniques

👉 Want step-by-step lessons? Visit the Watercolor Hub for tutorials and free courses.

Wet-in-wet watercolor flowers video

Materials Used: 140lb cold-pressed paper, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, viridian, gamboge, yellow ochre, neutral tint, lavender, white gouache. Brushes: wash brush for foundation, #8 squirrel mop, #12 Kolinsky, #12 pointed round. See full watercolor toolbox below.

The Construction Process: Starting with an even foundation stain, you'll see how moisture levels dictate when to add each color layer. The demonstration shows critical decision points - too wet and colors disperse uncontrollably, too dry and you lose the wet-in-wet effect entirely.

Key Technical Points:

  • Paper moisture assessment using surface sheen as your guide
  • Pigment consistency progression from thin washes to thick applications
  • Brush moisture control to prevent cauliflowering and blooming
  • Light-to-dark value progression essential for watercolor success
  • Strategic use of opaque gouache for final highlights and corrections

Timing Mastery: The tutorial emphasizes patience between applications and working fast once conditions are right. You'll learn to read paper moisture states and adjust pigment consistency accordingly - the foundation skill that separates successful wet-in-wet work from muddy disasters.

How to Paint wet-in-wet Flowers with Watercolors

Continue Learning

👉 Next stop: check out my Free Watercolor Painting Course or browse the Watercolor Tutorials Hub to keep building your skills.
👉 Follow me on Pinterest for daily watercolor inspiration!

If you enjoy these kinds of raw insights and loose watercolor demos, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe to Crafted by Robert and follow along as I share painting inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories straight from my garage studio. 👉 Subscribe to Crafted by Robert

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links are affiliates, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend materials I use regularly, often from Blick Art Materials. Your support keeps my tutorials free and ad-free—thank you!

Here are the materials I use all the time and have for decades. I only buy from Blick Art but feel free to shop where you prefer.

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