Your Class Project

In this project, you’ll paint loose watercolor flowers using the wet-into-wet method, a simple 30-minute exercise that builds confidence and teaches the most important watercolor skill—timing.

Learn the secret to watercolor: paint flowers wet-into-wet while mastering the art of knowing when to work, wait, and stop. This quick and simple project is designed for all levels and can be done anytime—no drawing required. You’ll not only end up with a beautiful floral painting, but you’ll also build one of the most important watercolor skills: understanding how paint dries and how to work with it instead of against it.

👉 Before you begin: watch the video all the way through. This is very important—you’ll see what’s coming up next, and because we move fairly quickly in the demo, it will really help you follow along smoothly.

What You’ll Need

Watercolor paper
A mid-sized brush for applying clear water
A smaller brush (or two) for dropping paint into the wet areas
A liner brush for painting the stem (if you don’t have one, just use any small brush)
Watercolor paints (any colors you love)
A cup of water and paper towel

Steps to Complete the Project

Set up your workspace
Gather your materials and get comfortable.
Paint with clear water first
Begin by brushing clear water onto the shape of your petals. This prepares the surface so the paint flows and blends naturally.
Add color wet-into-wet
Drop in watercolor onto the damp paper and watch it spread, soften, and bloom. Let the pigment move on its own—this is where loose painting really comes alive.
Learn when to wait
Pause and observe how the paint dries—this is where the magic happens. You’ll discover the perfect moment to go back in with stronger pigment.
Add finishing touches
Once the petals have set, paint in the flower centers, stems, and leaves loosely to complete your composition.
Step back and stop
The hardest part of watercolor is knowing when to stop. Trust the process, and enjoy the expressive results.

Final Deliverable

Upload a photo of your finished loose watercolor flowers to the Project Gallery (see below). This project takes about 30 minutes—the same length as the class video. Don’t worry about perfection—the goal is to practice timing, loosen up your strokes, and gain confidence painting wet-into-wet.

You can also share progress shots, not just your final piece—seeing each stage is inspiring for everyone.

By sharing your work, you’ll inspire other students, celebrate your progress, and maybe even surprise yourself with just how expressive your flowers can be!

This project is your key to mastering watercolor timing—the skill every artist needs.

Paul Cheney

Teaching watercolour and digital painting

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