8 Easy Watercolor Leaves Every Beginner Should Learn | Step-by-Step Tutorial, by The Chic Artist on YouTube. 11 min 35 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 35 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Lay your watercolor paper flat and keep a paper towel beside it. Fill a jar with clean water and squeeze a small amount of two or three green paints onto your palette.
Load the round brush with water, then pick up pigment and mix it on the palette until the puddle looks smooth and slightly see-through, like thin milk.
For a basic leaf, touch the brush tip to the paper, press down gently to widen the shape, then lift and pull to a fine point.
For a teardrop leaf, press the brush at the base, drag it forward and flick upward at the end so the tip tapers by itself.
For a curved leaf, sweep the brush in a shallow arc in one movement. Keep your hand relaxed and do not go back over the stroke.
Add a stem while the leaf is still damp using a thinner brush and slightly diluted paint. Draw one quick line from the base.
Paint a center vein with the very tip of a small brush. Work on damp paper so the line softens and blends into the leaf.
Repeat each shape in different sizes and greens, turning the paper as you go. Overlap a few leaves so they read as a small branch or sprig.
Leave the page flat to dry completely before adding more leaves on top or painting nearby.
Tips and common mistakes
Test your paint mix on scrap paper first so you know how wet the brush is.
Load less water for crisp pointed tips and more water for soft, blended edges.
Let each layer dry before painting over it, or the shapes turn muddy.
Practice each leaf shape five or six times on spare paper before working on your final piece.
Questions
Do I need special watercolor paper?
Yes, watercolor paper holds up to water far better than printer paper. Cold press paper around 140 lb is a good, forgiving choice for beginners.
Which brush size should I use for small leaves?
A round brush in size 6 or 8 covers most leaf shapes. Use the very tip for stems and veins and the belly of the brush for wider shapes.
Why do my leaves look blotchy?
You are probably painting back over a stroke that is already drying. Try to finish each leaf in one or two strokes and leave it alone.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
