Paint a joyful bouquet of pansies in a glass vase and learn how to create vibrant flowers and convincing transparency in watercolor.

In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to paint a colorful floral composition filled with light, depth, and fresh, lively color — while building the painting calmly and confidently, one layer at a time.

In this class, you’ll learn how to:

Break down a complex floral bouquet into simple, manageable steps
Plan your painting process and work in a clear, logical order
Use muted background colors to make bright flowers appear more vibrant
Build delicate pansy petals with transparent layers and clean color mixing
Create rich purples, yellows, oranges, and pinks with simple, flexible color mixes
Add texture and form using controlled edges, broken brushstrokes, and fine veins
Paint leaves and stems in clear value layers for depth and realism
Create the illusion of a glass vase using abstract shapes, contrast, and sharp edges
Lift paint and refine highlights to enhance light and reflections

This tutorial is suitable for intermediate and advanced watercolor artists who would like to improve their layering skills, color control, and ability to paint complex floral compositions without feeling overwhelmed.

By the end of the class, you will have a finished watercolor painting of a bright, cheerful bouquet of pansies in a glass vase — and a solid, repeatable process you can use for your own floral projects.

Isidora Azócar

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