Last Updated on May 26, 2025 by Dee
Peonies are such a beautiful subject to paint—delicate, romantic, and full of layered petals that make them perfect for practicing watercolor techniques. In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how to paint a watercolor peony step by step, using a simple pen and wash style that’s perfect for beginners.
Whether you’re new to watercolor or looking for a relaxing floral project, you’ll love how easy and fun this is! Plus, I’ve created a set of 30 watercolor Peony templates for my Patreon members if you want to jump right in—no sketching required!
(BONUS! Grab some of my other free watercolor templates at the end of this post!)
Table of Contents
🌿 Watch the Tutorial: How to Paint a Watercolor Peony Step by Step
👉 Watch the video below for the full step-by-step process:
🎥 Watch the video here 👉 How to Paint a Watercolor Peony Video Tutorial
What You’ll Need: Watercolor Peony Painting Supplies
Here’s a quick list of the materials I’m using—feel free to adapt with whatever you have on hand:
Watercolor paints – I’m using the Kuretake Gansai Tambi pans
Brushes – Escoda Size 4 and 2
Micron fineliner pen (size 01)
Watercolor paper – 300gsm smooth
Two jars of clean water
Paper towel
The colors I used:
- Olive green, sap green, forest green, hooker’s green (for the leaves)
- Cherry blossom pink, rose madder, cadmium yellow (for the petals)
- Prussian blue + imperial violet (for soft shadows)
Pin this for later! 👇🏻
🎨 Step-by-Step Breakdown
Here’s a quick guide to the painting process—be sure to watch the video for full details and techniques!
1️⃣ Start with a Light Wash
Begin by painting a soft first layer on the leaves and stem using the greens. Focus on identifying shadow areas and leaving highlights white.
2️⃣ Add the Petal Base Color
Use cherry blossom pink for the petals, keeping the color light and translucent in the first layer.
3️⃣ Define the Center
Add cadmium yellow and a touch of pink to the center of the peony, creating warmth and contrast.
4️⃣ Deepen the Shadows
Return to the leaves with deeper greens like hooker’s and forest green, and to the petals with rose madder. Layer your watercolor gently, letting it dry between layers for the best effect.
5️⃣ Add Final Details
Mix imperial violet and prussian blue for soft shadow areas on the petals. Paint a loose, dreamy background wash with touches of sap green, pinks, and soft blends.
6️⃣ Finish with Pen Work
Once the paint is dry, use your Micron pen to outline the petals, leaves, and stem. This pen-and-wash technique creates a beautiful, illustrated effect.
📥 Get the 30 Peony Templates & Digital Stamps! 👇🏻
Ready to create your own iris masterpiece? Download my exclusive set of 23 delicate iris templates and digital stamps—perfect for watercolor painting, digital art, or traditional coloring.
👉 Download them on Patreon: Artsydee’s Patreon
👉 Or pick them up on Etsy: Artsydee Creations
💡 Tips for Using the 30 Watercolor Peony Templates
✨ Watercolor Painting:
- Trace the templates directly onto watercolor paper for stress-free painting.
- Experiment with different color palettes to create unique and vibrant flower designs.
✨ Digital Art (Procreate & More):
- Import the transparent PNG templates into Procreate and explore digital watercolor brushes.
- Perfect for creating digital wall art, printable designs, or planner stickers.
✨ Traditional Coloring:
- Print the templates and enjoy mindful coloring with markers, pencils, or fine liners.
- Great for handmade cards, scrapbook pages, and creative journaling!
📚 More Watercolor Tutorials You’ll Love:
🌷 Easy Watercolor Tulip for Beginners
🌸 Watercolor Magnolia for Beginners
🪻 How to Paint an Iris in Watercolor (Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial)
Download Free Watercolor Templates HERE (below)!
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or log in with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page, and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
Love These Watercolor Templates? Get Even More Exclusive Creative Goodies on My Patreon! 🎨
If you’re enjoying these free printables, why not join my Artsydee Patreon community? As a member, you’ll gain access to exclusive Procreate tutorials, watercolor lessons, and tons of printables like this one, which are delivered to you monthly (and sometimes even twice a month!). Plus, you’ll get sneak peeks at upcoming projects and have a say in what content I create next. ✨
Join today and unlock premium resources to take your creativity to the next level!
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