How to paint hydrangea flowers in watercolour

Hydrangea blooms are some of the most beautiful of the summer. Each one is made of lots of little flowers which means they’re crammed full of detail and can be daunting to paint – especially in watercolour.

But never fear as in this video I run you through the process I go through to paint them in my realistic style:

I hope this spurs you on to try painting a complex hydrangea bloom. If you’ve enjoyed the video, please leave me a comment, I love reading them.

 

Happy painting,

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53 Comments

  1. Leni Strong on February 7, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Gorgeous as usual (as are you!!) and congratulations on another baby- busy lady but such joy of children.

    • Bonnie Johnston on February 7, 2019 at 3:43 pm

      My favorite flower, they are beautiful! I love tour paintings. As soon as I get my internet issues resolved I will be signing up for more classes.

  2. Hilda Vandergriff on February 7, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    Great video, where can I get an adjustable stand like the one holding up your photo? I want one 🙂
    Thank you for your video 🙂

  3. Jean Parker on February 7, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    Beautiful as are all your paintings, and very instructional in a short video.
    Thank you

  4. April Liu on February 7, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    so beautiful love it 🙂

  5. John Soehnlein on February 7, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    Thank you for sharing your incredible enthusiasm and talent with us beginners. Our Condo group gets together and paint our homework sketches that your free classes supply. I’m taking my former lesson fees and putting it towards more art supplies. Your videos allow me to make progress… a lot of the angst and frustration has gone away.
    Thank you again for sharing.
    Any plans for future family portraits?

  6. Henry on February 7, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    Ho my Lord, congratulations, enjoy every second with your kids.Believe be before you know it they’re big already. One thing I know that although I don’t know you personally,those kid are blessed with a very special mom. Thank you for the video you send me.

    • Anna Mason on February 8, 2019 at 1:28 pm

      What a lovely comment, thank you Henry!

  7. Ivette Moreno on February 7, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    Hi Anna
    Congratulation for a baby!!!!
    I love your work ,so beatiful
    Sorry for my English I speak Spanish

  8. Carme on February 7, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    Great video, love it !!!

  9. Taisa on February 7, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Hello Anna! Thank you for the wonderful lesson. I really like your pictures. In your pictures a lot of tenderness, love, kindness. They are delightful! I wish you and your loved ones health, happiness and success!
    Taisa

  10. Linda Schultz on February 7, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    Your artwork is beautiful. I like your teaching style, you explain how to paint simple and easy to understand.
    Thank you

  11. Linda Schultz on February 7, 2019 at 5:06 pm

    Your artwork is wonderful.

  12. Greg on February 7, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    Hi Anna… Your artwork and instruction is amazing. I painted the pear from your free lesson and I’m beyond satisfied on how well it turned out. When my sister-in-law saw it, she thought it was a photograph. My experience was necessary to turn out such a dazzling piece, but it wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance.
    I will be joining your on-line class and look forward to, with your assistance, further developing my art.
    All the very best with your new edition to be.

    • Anna Mason on February 8, 2019 at 1:27 pm

      So pleased to hear you’ve found a style that suits you Greg!

      • Tuğçe Uğurlu on March 6, 2019 at 10:23 am

        This is amazing !! ❤️
        Where can i find the original photo of this drawing?

  13. Richard Rooker on February 7, 2019 at 5:31 pm

    Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Just when I’m trying to loosen up my style, you tease me with the gorgeous hydrangea!

  14. Brian on February 7, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    Brilliant demonstration Anna.

  15. Lorraine Ondricek on February 7, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    the painting is beautiful.
    Is it hard to paint ice ?

  16. Evelyne Self on February 7, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    Smashing, You’re a joy to watch!

  17. Linda on February 7, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    I love your email tips Anna! Good luck with raising a toddler and welcoming the new baby!
    Juggling those enormous tasks with your exquisite watercolor paintings is an enormous
    Task.

    Remember to take care of YOU.

    Love,
    Linda Stephan
    Birmingham, Alabama

    • Anna Mason on February 8, 2019 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks Linda!

  18. Sylvia on February 7, 2019 at 7:41 pm

    Hi Anna, This beautiful picture inspires me to try and get back to painting. I lost my husband in September and my Son needs his second Heart Transplant(the first being done at Papworth, England) so as you imagine it is very hard to settle down to painting even though it would be the best thing for me. Congrats on your pregnancy. I wish you well and one day you may hear from me. Sylvia Keith

  19. Linda King on February 7, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you for sharing the flowers with me. You are so generous.

  20. Susan Merila on February 7, 2019 at 10:20 pm

    Thank you! Very lovely preview of your new video. I enjoyed opening my email to your inspiring presentation.

  21. gillian on February 8, 2019 at 12:21 am

    Congratulations on the new bub…….they are close enough to be great friends! Loved your video, just don’t know if my hands are steady enough anymore for your beautiful detailing. Think I will try a free class first. Once again thanks

  22. Jim M. McCarthy on February 8, 2019 at 12:40 am

    GREAT class! I love your teaching style! jim

  23. AUDREY BALL on February 8, 2019 at 2:53 am

    Anna, I love watching all your videos. They are so inspiring and helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your talents and knowledge. Blessings for your toddler and new baby.

  24. ART FAELNAR on February 8, 2019 at 3:50 am

    Thank you for the Hydrangea video. That was very informative. Will definitely try doing it myself.

  25. Dena on February 8, 2019 at 7:46 am

    Beautiful!. You have such a light and joyous touch to your work – so inspiring. I really hope that this year I will be able to start painting again. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and boundless enthusiasm .All the very best to you and your family.

  26. Prabha on February 8, 2019 at 8:03 am

    Hi Anna, I really liked this painting, and how you use small brushes and different tones. The results are great. Thanks again. Prabha

  27. Sonja Taljaard on February 8, 2019 at 9:23 am

    So beautiful! Like always,you are a great inspiration !

  28. Eileen on February 8, 2019 at 11:57 am

    Yes I enjoyed this short video. I have bought your suggested colours and as mentioned earlier I am going through your book but have been unable to finish the leaf but I will get back to this. I was not very successful when I tried the blackberry, but I was very pleased with the sunflower. I have been watching Charles Evans ‘Snowy Scene’ and painted this. However I shall be getting back to the leaf and the bird because I would like to master your technique as I like painting figures and clothes and I think this technique would be very useful. I have been having trouble with my computer which has taken up a lot of time.

  29. Hilda Barone on February 8, 2019 at 1:07 pm

    Beautiful as always Anna. I love to paint hydrangeas too.

  30. [email protected] on February 8, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Loved watching this and will look forward to attempting this o e . Om so glad I found your online school your tutorials ste perfect

  31. Elizabeth on February 8, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    Afternoon Anna
    Congrats with new baby on the way – an exciting time for you and your family.
    Thank you for your email and video.
    I am very keen to enrol. I have saved money to join for 6 months. But, i am trying to hold back just in case you have one of your special offers
    All the best.

  32. Dancy on February 8, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Hi Anna. Video-fantastic as usual.
    Congrats to you and your family regarding impending new arrival.
    I am keen to enrol. I have saved money to join for 6 months. But, I am holding back, IF I CAN, for one of your special offers.
    All the best
    Elizabeth Dancy

  33. Tari Loomis-Trapenard on February 8, 2019 at 8:04 pm

    Oh my ! You are really busy being pregnant and having a 16 month old !!! Congratulations on your pregnancy ! I am moving now (my landlord is selling the house) so I am anxiously looking for a new home to live but in the mean time I am saving all the videos to use later when I am moved and settled. I have 3 rescued cats (that I imported to the USA from Costa Rica where I used to live for 14 years) and one dog (wire-haired fox terrier) so that makes finding a new place a LIttle harder than normal. But I enjoy getting your news letters on how things are going and your videos a lot! Hope you are doing well.
    Tari

  34. Mary on February 8, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    Thank you Anna I really enjoyed this, I have painted a hydrangea before, this has taught me a lot, showing up. Some of my mistakes X

  35. Sandy on February 9, 2019 at 12:47 am

    Thank you Anna,
    Would you please share your pallet colors? Your hydrangeas are absolutely beautiful!

  36. Neetu verma on February 9, 2019 at 7:23 am

    First im congratulating you for your pregnancy..which u have been shared with us..n here im telling you factly i have painted flowers bt thishas taught me in detailed wise..which is very imp.for a beginner.i have watched n learn lots of things from you.n i have solved my painting problm also.really its been great to share with u my feelings to you.

  37. Suzanne Linch on February 11, 2019 at 1:17 pm

    Amazing painting techniques as always, thank you so much, your children are truly blessed as you are too.

  38. Linda Hodges on February 11, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    Congratulations on expecting a new baby! I wish you both happiness and good health.
    I so appreciate your amazing talent, and how you always give step-by-step instructions of how to achieve a beautiful painting!
    I have learned so much from you already, and thank you very much!

  39. Irene on February 11, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Anna
    Congratulations on your second kid. Thank you for this lovely video. I enjoy drawing flowers and recently I have tried to draw some veggie too. Your videos are my inspiration to draw detail botanical paintings.

  40. Jacqueline Larkin on February 14, 2019 at 6:20 am

    You will be one busy lady!! But it is a nice kind of “busy”, what with two babies. I have seven children myself so I know how hard it is to fine “me” time.. I am sure you will find time for your wonderful painting however hard that may be. We would be lost without your expertise. and guidance! Bless you and yours, Sincerely, Jacqueline, Arizona, USA..

  41. Edith Lassonde on February 14, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Babies are so beautiful and worth all the work, exhaustion and pain. You should take time to do newborn portraits with watercolor and take lots of pictures. They grow up so fast. I watch your Youtube videos often for inspiration and instruction. Your instruction is one of the best. Thank you for sharing your talent and gift of teaching.

  42. Karla Antol on July 16, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    My favorite flower!

    Just finished the Daffodil flower and going to try this. A bit harder than I’ve tried so far, but feel inspired to tackle it!

  43. Rashmi on July 17, 2019 at 12:18 am

    I must have watched this video many times before. I can hardly take my eyes off. Your method is now so etched in my mind. Every time I look flower photograph, automatically my eyes look for the lightest, darkest and mid tones. Thanks for teaching me the way I like to learn – in detail and step by step. You make a fabulous teacher Anna!

  44. Patti on July 21, 2019 at 2:25 am

    You’ve become one of my favorite water colorists! Stunning as usual ❤

  45. Gerrie on July 18, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    So beautiful to see you doing the several layers on this video.
    I love hydrangea flowers so much in their different colours.

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