Painting a Tulip in Watercolor Tutorial

Spring is tulip season, but anytime of the year is a good time to paint this gorgeous flower. Painting tulips in watercolor is a fun way to exercise you watercolor painting skills and create gorgeous art. We will lead you through step by step in this watercolor tutorial with a supply list. There is also a video that shows you how to paint it once the ad plays.

Supplies to Paint a Tulip in Watercolor

-Watercolor paper

-Watercolor pencil in sap green

-Paint brush

-Watercolor paint in yellow ochre, white, sap green, Dark Hauser Green, Alizarin Crimson, Indigo Blue

-Paper towel

-Paint palette

Pre-Mix Watercolor Paint Colors

Mix yellow ochre and white to create a light tan color, Mix 3 parts Alizarin Crimson to 1 drop of Indigo blue for a deeper red and add a few drops of water to dilute. Mix Indigo Blue with water to create a lighter indigo color for shading. In another well, indigo paint, water and red to create a purple.

Draw a Tulip in Watercolor Pencil

or Trace the Template at the end of the post. If you want to start the basics of painting drawing a tulip in pencil, you can start with this post.

Paint in the Tulip Flower Head

Use the brush and the tan mixed watercolor paint to paint in the petals. This will be the tulip under-painting. Some of the color will show though and give the tulip flower dimension.

Blot the Watercolor Paint

While the paint is still wet, use a paper towel to blot up the paint near the top of the petals to create a mottled appearance.

Paint in the Red Paint Mix on the Tulip

Let the tan paint dry to the touch. Lightly paint on the red paint mix. This step can be done before or after the leaves and stem.

Dab the paint as each petal is painted and while it is still wet. Don’t paint each petal and then go back to dab each one, the paint will dry too fast.

Move around the tulip painting and lifting. Add some darker red paint if desired to add more contrast. Leave some white space between the petals to maintain an airy look.

Paint the Flower Stem in Watercolor Paint

Paint the stem in indigo watercolor paint and the inside of one stem and the outside of the others. This will add a shadow.

Paint with Green Paint

While the indigo paint is still wet, use the sap green paint to paint over the leaves along the outer edges.

Paint with the Darker Paint

Use the Dark Hauser green to paint over the indigo and fill in the leaves. Let dry.

Use Purple to Add Shading to the Tulip Flower

Use the purple to add shading to edges of the tulip head. Dab some of the paint with a paper towel so it still blends in.

Let dry and frame! Play with using different color combinations and creating different types of tulips. Here’s the template to trace to draw a tulip.