BOTANICAL PAINTING - botanical watercolor made easy

BOTANICAL PAINTING made easy - in this full length watercolor leaves tutorial, I explain how to achieve these botanical leaves step by step. Botanical illustration can be difficult but giving it a modern spin - botanical art has a much more relaxed approach. I will explain how to paint leaves in watercolor, the colours I use and how to use negative painting around the leaves.

If you enjoy this video and would like to learn more about botanical art, then head over to my Patreon site where you will find in-depth tutorials. Here is the link.

Materials used for this tutorial:

Paper - Sanders Waterford 300 gsm hot pressed

Brushes: Number 3 and number 1 spotters (use any brushes that you have)

Paints: Leaf Green, Sap Green, Olive Green, Indian Yellow, Burnt Umber, Cobalt Violet and Paynes Grey - all Winsor & Newton apart from Leaf Green which is Holbien.

You may want to join our Facebook Group - The Wonders of Watercolour where you can post your completed works from these tutorials as well as have access to the line drawings and reference photos I use.

ref photo: Courtesy of Kendal from Unsplash

Music Used:

Just Stay - Aakash Gandhi
Invisible Beauty - Aakash Gandhi
Serenity - Aakash Gandhi
Dreamland - Aakash Gandhi
Dancing Star - Aakash Gandi
Angles Dream - Aakash Gandhi

All from YouTube Audio Library

reference photo courtesy of Unsplash - photographer - Kendal

[sherree]

This appeals to me so much more than throw water on paper, splash in paints and hope for the best. If I heard one more person say “loosen up” I may explode.
Everything about this video is perfectly done.
Thank you. Subscribed.

[kristiLB]

Helen, I'm relieved to see that you showed us your tracing method. I can draw some things free hand but I do use an art projector for much of my portrait work - just to get a better likeness. I always hesitate to tell people I use a tracing method - like I'm not a legitimate artist if i do so. But I have learned from many a great artist and teacher that it is perfectly acceptable. Beautiful work as always! I'm learning a lot from your tutorials. Thank you for sharing!

[dmcdaniel]

AMAZING VIDEO!! Thank you Helen for sharing your giftings with all 30K of us! I have learned so very much.

[feelingnifty]

Beautiful painting Helen! Very clear and easy to follow instructions too- keep up the great work!!

[HyacinthSteele]

Hello Helen Thank you for this tutorial. My favourite watercolours to use are Daniel Smith.

[marionoz]

Stunning work, thank you for sharing.

[barryedgington]

Hi Helen, love all the nuances of green and yellow in the leaves and the details. You are so talented. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. ❤ Helene

[helengentile]

I love the way you do detailed brush strokes using fine lines, making the painting come alive. Thank you 😊

[wendiebs]

I've found Daniel Smith is my favorite. On the inexpensive line I really like Koi, both regular and neon/metalic, they are vibrant and smooth.... DS has quite a bit of granulation, which I just LOVE!

[Liz.]

Helen oh how I wish there were more botanical artists on you tube. I love your work!

[debilunstroth]

Helen, my fiddle leaf fig is my favorite houseplant. Your video caught my eye...so gorgeous! So I started watching all your videos and hauled out my paints, dusted them off, and started with a split leaf philodendron leaf. Success! Thank you!

[AndreaFox-pxhs]

Great and very educational video! Beautiful work! ❤

[syedarazvi]

Thank you so much! I’ve always struggled with watercolour but after watching your video I managed to make a pretty decent painting. Thanks!

[madelinegrudens]

This was super helpful....blending into a smooth gradation has really been eluding me for so long and you've demystified it perfectly ... Thanks for the really clear demo with helpful guidance on your technique 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[duanapearson]

Wow! Loved watching those leaves come to life!

[carolburkett]

Love your watercolors. It’s amazing your leaves and how you begin. And layering the colors. The colors so perfect after drying. So fun when you finish. I can relate to your style. Beautiful!!

[mkboyd]

So happy to have discovered your videos. Love your paintings.

[subratakumarpal]

Botanic panting is totally new for me, l had no knowledge about these pantings. Thanks a lot it is very cool watching green leaves being painted.

[bhagyaappadurai]

Hello Helen, thank you so much for teaching in detail. I was searching for leaf study videos in watercolors and could not find much with such detail. This video helped me a lot with color combos and those fine details which brings the leaf to light

[michaelklein]

I'm getting a bit better now with leaves, thanks to your teaching!