How to paint a giant peony flower in watercolor

Have you ever got lost in the petals of a peony flower you were trying to paint?

They have so many petals, and such a complex form, that it can feel like a bit of a labyrinth at times.

But all the same, peonies are one of the most satisfying flowers to paint. 

They have so much depth, thanks to the masses of pretty, delicate petals that form them. 

To show that depth in a painting requires the use of dark tones, which create a very pleasing contrast with the pale pink colour of the petals.

In this mini class, I’ll show you the process I followed to paint an ENORMOUS peony flower in watercolour. Take a look:

I hope you’re feeling inspired to paint your own peony flower in watercolour.

A great way to avoid getting lost in the petals is to paint BIG like I did here. It’s really fun!  It’s also really important to take the time to create an accurate drawing at the start, with as much petal detail as you can include.

I painted another giant flower in the same studio session as the peony, which you can see here

If you love painting peonies as much as I do, check out this other mini class where I show you how to paint a Chinese bowl for some peonies to sit in.

I’d love to hear from you if you try this painting, so let me know in the comments below. And leave me a message if you enjoyed the video. I love reading them!

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6 Comments

  1. Barbara O. Bernard on August 10, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    Love watching you paint.

    Barbara Bernard

  2. Jennifer Waddington on August 10, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    I love seeing your painting and you’ve inspired me so much. I might need to rejoin your school!

  3. Victoria Crow on August 11, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    Love your paintings, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your an inspiration

  4. Candy on August 25, 2021 at 3:27 am

    Very nice instruction. Can’t wait to try it myself over the weekend. Thank you for sharing.

  5. Mahabub on August 25, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    Amazing!

  6. Julie Beard on September 1, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    Sharing the colors you used was especially helpful. Thanks!

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