Day 1 – Soft Petal Study

Wet-on-Wet Blending

Technique level: Basic
Duration: ~20–30 minutes

Objective:
Practice the classic wet-on-wet technique by blending soft transitions of color to create the illusion of gentle curves and translucency in a flower petal. Focus on patience, timing, and water control.

Materials:

• Cold press or rough watercolor paper
• Round brush (size 6–10 recommended)
• 2–3 soft, blendable pigments (e.g., Quin Rose, Cobalt Violet, Naples Yellow)
• Water + paper towel or sponge
• Reference photo of a single petal (e.g., rose, tulip, or magnolia), or pick a real flower and zoom in

Steps:

1. Draw Lightly: Sketch a single large petal, occupying most of the page. Think zoomed in—your petal is the landscape today.
2. Pre-wet the Petal Shape: Using clean water, wet the entire petal area. It should glisten but not pool—tilt the paper to check for even sheen.
3. Drop in Color: While the paper is still wet, load your brush with diluted pigment and gently drop color into the center or along the edge of the petal, depending on your light source. Use a second color to create depth and blend at the edges.
4. Let It Flow: Resist overworking. Watch how the pigments softly merge—nudge gently if needed, but avoid fussing. Let the water do the blending.
5. Enhance Depth (Optional): Once the first layer is dry, add another light wet-on-wet layer to increase shadow where the petal curves.

Focus:

• Watch how pigment travels in water.
• Notice how different pigments behave—do some spread more aggressively?
• Practice restraint: stop before it gets muddy.

Bonus Tip:
Try painting a second version right after the first, using slightly less water, to compare edge softness and pigment behavior. This builds awareness of your timing window.