Summer is usually a riot of flowers, but winter can seem barren. I think that’s why I love wintery anemones so much – they bring a splash of colour to a garden that’s usually brown, damp and empy – at least here in the UK!
These are a stylised version of anemones, not an accurate botanical sketch. I love painting them in Payne’s Grey.
What you will need
- Watercolour paints
- Watercolour paper
- A brush
- Jars of water
- Paper towel
Colours
- Payne’s Grey
- Mars Black
All the watercolour paint I use is the professional range from Winsor & Newton. You can choose any colours for your anemone flowers – I’ve gone for a pale blue-grey.
Paint an anemone flower step by step
- Start by painting a circle in black for the flower centre. Aim to have it two-thirds of the way up your paper.
- Next mix up a very light value of the grey by adding lots of water and only a little paint. You want something really pale and translucent. Paint a petal with rounded edges, without touching the centre.
- Work around the flower to create six evenly space petals, leaving a little white space between them to avoid them all blending into one.
- Use a little darker paint to touch the insides of the petals, creating a shadow around the centre. Allow it to blend out naturally.
- Use a mid-grey to create a thin curved stem, then pull out long curved leaves with pointed tips. Make some leaves darker and others lighter to create contrast, and have some point upwards or downwards.
- When the flower is dry, use a small pointed brush and go back around the centre, adding curved flicks and then a ring of dots in black. Take your time with the details – the finer the better!
Now you have a finished anemone flower! I love these in wintery bouquets, contrasing with red flowers and berries.
More watercolour florals
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