How to paint a rose flower in watercolour

Roses can be daunting to paint.  With so many gorgeous petals, it’s tricky to know where to start!

In this mini class I wanted to try to demystify that process for you and show you how I tackle a larger-than-life complicated rose bloom.

Here’s how to paint a realistic watercolor rose:

I hope this mini class inspires you to paint a watercolor rose too.

As well as this pink rose, you can find mini classes on how to paint a velvety red rose and how to make a tonal drawing of a rose using a pencil.

My mini classes give you a brief overview of the process. If you’d like to take the full versions of these classes (and have access to ALL of my tutorials plus lots of other benefits), they’re included with Nature Studio membership.

What’s included with the step-by-step full length class?

The full version of this watercolor rose tutorial includes 1h 45m of video instruction.

It shows you everything in clear detail, including how to paint the entire composition step-by-step, which paints to use and how to mix the colours, an outline drawing you can print and trace, and downloadable reference photos (in colour and black and white).

If you become a Nature Studio member, you’ll also be able to ask for help from our coaches and get feedback on your work.

Or you might like the keep-forever PDF class…

This rose is also available to buy as a download-and-keep PDF tutorial which is 53 pages long and includes 62 step-by-step photos, detailed written instructions. a traceable outline drawing, reference photos and list of paints. You can find out more and preview it here.

I’d love to hear about your own rose painting experiences! Do share them in the comments below.

Happy painting,

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28 Comments

  1. YO on September 10, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Hi Anna. First congratulations on your watercolors and for sharing your experiences.
    My question is a bit simple but that strikes me: As copies the drawing cardboard, exactly as in relation to photography? Thank you very much Anna

    • Anna Mason on September 10, 2015 at 12:17 pm

      Hi there, I’m not quite sure I understand the question you had?

      • YO on September 10, 2015 at 2:49 pm

        Sorry for my bad English, it’s just a detail. I see in the video that drawing is idem to the original photo, as if silhouetting, transferred or similar. No one seems a drawing made with photo as reference, but exactly the same. What method do you use for drawing?

  2. hilda on September 10, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Thank you so much for the rose tutorial. Beautiful. I love painting rose.

  3. Joanne on September 10, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    Thanks Anna appreciate the demo and the fact that you need to build the flowers tones I tend to try and do it in a couple of washes and either overdo it or just end up a mess. Very interested in your move into Craftsy look forward to seeing you there thanks again
    Joanne

  4. Candy on September 11, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    I believe she used transfer paper / tracing paper. laid that over the original photo and using a pencil she traced it. this video should help
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz2Kwz6JwPk

  5. Christine Albright on September 13, 2015 at 2:10 am

    I enjoy watching your tutorials so much! This one is especially beautiful in it’s details, and because the rose is my favorite flower!

  6. glow on September 13, 2015 at 2:51 am

    yes… more painting and inking techniques of the trade. would be wonderful to learn but i dont have the dough which i would like to support you in…i love the coloring tech you did..and all that yummy info…..

  7. Kim McEvilly on September 13, 2015 at 3:18 am

    Thanks, this was – again – terrific!!
    So motivating!

    Kim

  8. Paul Hopkinson on September 14, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Hi Anna, for many years I’ve been an animal/bird artist however the past few weeks I have been watching your videos on here and YouTube, I am going to have a go at botanical work soon and this is all due to you. So fingers crossed I may be able to paint some resembling a flower of sorts, certainly not to the standard of this beautiful rose. LOL
    Have a great time in Seattle, Paul
    http://www.devonartist.co.uk

  9. Jane Robinson on September 18, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Absolutely stunning Anna, I am learning to do very detailed work in my painting
    and have found this is what I love most and it is so therapeutic!
    Thank you for sharing your tutorials.

  10. Maysoon on November 7, 2015 at 12:10 am

    Hi Anna
    Water colour painting is very challenging to me. I watched your video with great interest and enjoyed it,Luna lot. You made it look so simple and easier than I thought . Many thanks for sharing your experience. One issue , I prefer the normal motion of the videos as it gives better opportunity for understanding and following the artist steps. Many thanks again.

  11. Pat on February 18, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    What colors did you use in the entire rose? Thanks beautiful. Pat

  12. Charlie Afford on June 9, 2016 at 2:09 am

    What type of brush works best for these type of projects?

  13. William on February 20, 2017 at 3:05 am

    Hi Anna,
    Thanks for your post. The painted rose flower is so beautiful.
    I will learn to make one for my girl friend. What is the name of the tiny brush you used?

    Many thanks,
    William

    • Caroline (team Anna Mason Art) on February 20, 2017 at 10:36 am

      Hi William, the smallest brush that Anna uses tends to be the size 000. You can find out more about Anna’s brushes on the equipment page: https://www.naturestudio.com/equipment

  14. Carly Ritchie on October 2, 2017 at 9:56 am

    This is beautiful Anna! I’ve been toying with the idea of getting into watercolours myself as I’ve only ever used sprayers for much (much) larger projects, but I really love the delicacy to painting smaller pieces by hand rather than just blasting paint all over the show!

    The depth you’ve achieved in the flowers are incredible!! Great work girl 🙂

    Carly Ritchie x
    https://paintsprayerguide.com

  15. Samreen Fatimah on June 19, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    Hi Anna love your work.
    Where can i find the three hour tutorial?

  16. Jennifer on February 24, 2020 at 9:21 am

    Hello Anna,

    I love all of your tutorials, thank you so much for your generosity of time and work

    I have a question of what colours did you use in this rose?

    Thank you

    Jennifer

    • Amy Adams (Team Anna Mason Art) on February 24, 2020 at 9:55 am

      Hi Jennifer, thanks for your comment and question. This tutorial uses the following colours of paint: Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Violet, Olive Green, Opera Rose, Payne’s Gray, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Rose, Permanent Sap Green, Transparent Orange, White gouache, Winsor Blue (Green Shade), Winsor Green (Yellow Shade), Winsor Lemon and Yellow Ochre.

  17. https://thuocladientu123.com on February 13, 2021 at 4:01 am

    Best view i have ever seen !

  18. Judi Gibbs on July 27, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Anna: This note really helped. Talking about painting/drawing often and small takes the pressure off always trying to complete something wonderful. It WORKS for me. And although your paintings are AMAZINGLY detailed, suggesting that perhaps just painting a small part is another great idea! You have definitely got ME started. Today.

    And about getting the colors mixed? I am often scrambling to do that partway through a painting. And it is never very successful. Another little something I can work on. GREAT suggestions. Best email I have read in a while.

    Thank you.

  19. Bonnie Hastings on July 28, 2021 at 3:38 am

    Love your work! In this rose video, do you only use wet on dry paper as it appears to me? If so, how are you able to get the final blended look? If I do not use some wet on wet I end up with hard lines.

  20. Lara on February 22, 2022 at 6:08 pm

    WOW. Amazing job!
    Thank you so much for the rose flower tutorial. Can you please paint more flowers?
    I love flowers painting and you guided me so well. Keep shinig Anna!

    https://holapaints.com/best-paint-sprayers-uk/

  21. Patti on March 22, 2022 at 11:58 pm

    I paid for the tutorial and downloaded it on my laptop, can I download it to my iPad so I can take it on the go?? I can’t wait to dive in but I’m waiting to collect all the paints I need first!

  22. Camille Franklin on April 3, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Hope I can do this rose!

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