I spent a really great time taking this class! Dahlias look complex and hard to draw and paint but actually I had a lot of fun! 
I love how my ink and watercolor painting turned out. 
As for the realistic dahlia I decided to use cotton paper since I always struggle with glazing and blending and I knew this would help. And it definitively did! 
I think my first wash was pretty dark so I don't have a lot of highlights but I also think I don't have a lot of shadow either?