plate no. 5575

White Lilies

watercolor, paperRealismflower paintingflowersliliesvasestill lifewater

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning wet-on-wet watercolor techniques and how to create depth with layered washes. Students will also develop skills in negative painting to define the shapes of the white lilies.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the lilies and vase.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue to the background, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
While the background is still wet, add darker blues to create depth and shadows.
step 04
Paint the lilies using a very light wash of white and gray, defining the petals with negative painting.
step 05
Add touches of yellow and orange to the lilies for detail and realism.
step 06
Paint the stems and leaves with shades of green, allowing the colors to blend and bleed.
step 07
Add details to the vase, using blues and grays to create a sense of transparency.
step 08
Let the painting dry completely, then add final details and highlights with a fine brush.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix ultramarine blue with a touch of burnt sienna to create the darker background shades. Use varying amounts of water to control the intensity of the colors.

techniques