Learn how to paint a fun and easy avocado in watercolour!
Avocados are always popular – they’re one of the biggest trends in both food and design. And the good news is, they’re also really easy to paint!
If you want to learn how to paint a watercolour avocado in a simple, loose style, this tutorial is for you. It breaks down the process into easy steps, with tips and tricks noted on each step. Keep reading for more step-by-step instructions. Happy painting!
What you will need
- Watercolour paints
- Watercolour paper
- A brush
- Water jars
- Paper towel
Colours
- Sap Green
- Hooker’s Green
- Burnt Umber
All the paint I use is from Winsor & Newton. Don’t worry if you don’t have these exact colours – just find the closest match in your palette.
You’ll need a yellow-green for the flesh, a blue-green for the skin, and a brown or black for the stone.
Paint an avocado – step by step
- If you want to sketch the shape first, make sure you use light pencil strokes. You’re aiming for a tear-drop shape with a rounded top – avocados are wider and rounder on the bottom.
- Mix up a light yellow-green wash and outline the avocado shape. Outline a circle in the middle where the stone will go.
- Working quickly, fill in the shape with your paint, avoiding the circle you’ve marked out.
- While it’s still wet, add darker pigment around the outer edges, and also around the circle shape, to create contrast. Allow it to bleed out naturally, and resist the temptation to blend with your brush and overwork it!
- Mix up the darker, blue-green tone and use the tip of your brush to outline the avocado, creating the skin. Allow it to touch the flesh in parts to create nice blends between the colours.
- When the first layer is dry, mix up a brown colour. Fill in the stone, leaving a curved highlight of white paper to create the illusion that the stone is round. Add darker pigment on the shadow side (opposite the highlight) to deepen the effect.
More fruit and veg
More tutoriuals
Download my free watercolour supply guide
Feeling overwhelmed and confused by watercolour paints, papers and brushes? Download my free guide filled with insider info, including a list of good supplies for every budget, and my complete supply list!