Anemones are both elegant and mysterious. I especially love the white and bluish-purple ones—their soft layers and deep black anthers create a bold contrast. Interestingly, what look like petals are actually sepals!
In this tutorial, I’ll show you step by step how to paint an anemone using color blending, gentle watercolor washes, and simple details to make it look natural and realistic.
Table of Contents
Painting Tools
- Watercolor Paper: Arches Cold-Pressed Watercolor Paper
- Brushes: Escoda Perla #8 / Escoda Versatil #10
- Watercolors: For this beginner step-by-step watercolor tutorial series, I use Schmincke Horadam 24 Half-Pan Set. You can choose any brand and find similar colors.
Colors:
Manganese Violet, Ultramarine, Cobalt Green Dark, Sepia Brown
1. First Wash
Dilute Manganese Violet and Ultramarine to paint all the petal (or sepals, as they should be called) areas.
Before the base layer dries, use a more concentrated mix of Manganese Violet, Ultramarine, or a touch of pink to add brushstrokes following the curve of the petals. Then, let it dry.
2. Stamens and Black Anthers
Once the base layer is dry, add darker stamens using Manganese Violet + Ultramarine.
Start with a base layer and, after it dries, layer on the shadows.
Next, use an even deeper blue-violet mix of Manganese Violet + Indigo to paint the central mound.
At the same time, darken the gaps and shadows between the petals, especially those near the center. This will enhance the depth of the petals.
3. Leaves and Stem
Add beautiful leaves and stems as a complement using Cobalt Green Dark, Ultramarine, and Sepia Brown.
Repeat the same steps to paint the second small flower.
And that’s it—our purple anemone is complete!
I hope this tutorial helps you become more comfortable with watercolor washes, layering techniques, and detail refinement. Try applying these techniques to create more beautiful floral paintings!
If you have any questions or would like to share your work, feel free to leave a comment—I’d love to see your anemone!
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