Painting a Flower Close-Up (Part 2)

Practice close-up composition in this art lesson: painting a flower close-up (part 2).

🎨 Studio Brief #15

Paint a large, close-up view of a single flower inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe.

🎯 Your mission

Splash colors that don't usually hang out together.

⚡ The twist

Skip the color you'd normally pick.

What you'll learn

Paint a large, close-up view of a single flower inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe. Fill the entire paper with petals so the flower extends beyond the edges.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

close-up compositionwet-on-wet blendingcolor gradation

You will need

Watercolor paperWater cups and paper towels

Step 1 of 3

Choose a flower to paint (real or from a photo). Look at it closely—notice the curves, color variations, and center detail.

Step 2 of 3

Lightly sketch the main petal shapes with pencil. Make the flower big—it should touch all four edges of the paper.

Step 3 of 3

Paint the petals, starting with the lightest color and adding darker shades while still wet for soft transitions.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 Mixing red, yellow, and blue paint together makes mud — but mixing red, green, and blue light makes white.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Vincent van Gogh painted *Starry Night* from memory, in a hospital, at night.

You did it!

Next: Abstract Expressionist Splatter Painting (Part 2)All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Every brand, every poster, every video game — color was picked on purpose.

🏆 Try this week: Find five shades of one color around your house.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Why did you pick those colors? What feeling were you going for?”

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Painting a Flower Close-Up (Part 2)

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

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Painting a Flower Close-Up (Part 2)

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