Spring is bursting with color, and for me, that means one thing—it’s time to paint flowers! There’s something so calming about capturing the soft petals, vibrant hues, and organic shapes of spring blooms in watercolor. Whether you’re painting a single flower or an entire bouquet, spring flower painting is a fun and relaxing way to explore your creativity.

Because one of the best things about painting flowers? Is that they don’t have to be perfect. In fact, I’d argue that watercolor florals look even better when they’re loose, expressive, and a little unpredictable. Whether you’re new to painting or want to refine your floral skills, I’ve put together a list of my favorite spring flower painting tutorials. These step-by-step videos will guide you through painting everything from delicate wildflowers to bold sunflowers—no matter your skill level.

But before we dive into my favorite spring flower painting tutorials, let’s start with the basics. If you’re new to watercolor florals or want a solid refresher, this beginner’s guide is the perfect place to begin.

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Watercolor Flowers

If you’ve ever looked at a watercolor flower and thought, How do they make it look so effortless?—this tutorial is for you. Painting flowers might seem overwhelming, but once you break them down into simple shapes and brushstrokes, it becomes so much easier (and way more fun).

In this tutorial, we start with the absolute basics:

• Sketching floral shapes and leaves 
• Basic painting techniques for soft petals, bold centers, and delicate stems
• Step-by-step breakdowns of three popular flowers (anemones, delphiniums, and irises)
• How to mix colors so your flowers look rich and natural
• A full floral composition where we put everything together into a final piece

If you’re just getting started with spring flower painting, this guide will give you the confidence to create beautiful florals with ease.

My Favorite Spring Flower Painting Tutorials

Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to experiment with different flowers. Each of these spring flower painting tutorials focuses on easy-to-follow steps that help you improve your watercolor skills.

I’ve chosen a mix of simple flowers for beginners and more detailed flowers for those looking to refine their skills. Whether you want to paint a quick wildflower or dive into a detailed rose study, there’s something here for you in these spring flower painting tutorials. Let’s get into it!

1. Easiest Way to Paint TEN Flowers with Watercolor!

Want to paint a variety of flowers in one go? This tutorial covers ten different blooms, including lavender, cherry blossoms, and poppies. It’s a great way to get comfortable with different petal shapes and brush techniques. If you're looking for spring flower painting tutorials that cover multiple flowers in one lesson, this is a great place to start.

2. How to Paint Sunflowers

Sunflowers are one of the most cheerful flowers to paint, and this is one of my favorite spring flower painting tutorials for capturing their bold shape and bright color. In this tutorial, I show you how to paint a sunflower from two different perspectives, helping you capture both depth and texture.

3. Mastering Watercolor Anemones

Next, is a watercolor painting tutorial on anemones. Anemones have a striking dark center that makes them stand out. I’ll show you how to paint soft, delicate petals while keeping that bold contrast in the center. You can watch it here.

4. Mastering Watercolor Iris Flowers

Next on the list of spring flower painting tutorials, we have Irises. Irises have ruffled edges that can seem tricky, but in this tutorial I break them down into simple, flowing brushstrokes. 

5. Mastering Watercolor Delphiniums

Unlike some of the smaller blooms these tall, elegant delphiniums can easily take up your entire canvas. In this tutorial, I share a step-by-step that I hope will help you keep them loose and expressive.

6. Painting Watercolor Roses (SIX Perspectives!)

Roses can be intimidating, but in this tutorial I break them down into six different angles, so you can paint them from any perspective. If you're searching for spring flower painting tutorials that help you paint both realistic and loose roses, this tutorial will give you all the skills and confidence you need to master them.

7. Painting a Watercolor Wildflower Field

Want to try something different? This tutorial on painting a watercolor wildflower field uses a toothbrush and alcohol to create a fun, textured wildflower field. There are no rules when it comes to watercolor painting (and honestly, that’s one of the reasons I love it so much).

8. Painting Peonies 

Peonies are fluffy, layered, and full of movement. This tutorial walks you through multiple perspectives, making peonies easier to paint no matter where they’re placed in your composition.

9. Paint This Watercolor Floral Wreath with Me!

Last but not least, if you love painting florals but struggle with composition, this tutorial will help. We put everything we’ve learned into practice to create a balanced, beautiful floral wreath.

Extra Tips for Watercolor Flowers

Mastering spring flower painting isn’t just about following step-by-step tutorials—it’s also about building strong foundational skills. The more you understand shape, color, and movement, the easier it becomes to paint florals with confidence and ease.

To help you refine your skills, I’ve put together a few extra resources. These tutorials focus on simplifying flowers, improving your sketching, and mastering loose watercolor techniques—all of which will make your floral paintings look more natural and organic.

• How I Make Painting Watercolor Flowers Easy: In this tutorial, I break down my five go-to steps for simplifying flowers while keeping them expressive and beautiful. These are the techniques I use in almost every floral painting!
• Sketching First: How to Sketch Flowers Before You Paint: Sketching your flowers first is not required, but it can make painting much easier. This tutorial covers floral shapes, drills, and muscle memory exercises to build confidence and improve your accuracy.
• Crash Course on Loose Watercolor Florals: If you love quick, expressive florals, this tutorial will teach you how to paint them effortlessly, using simple brushstrokes and a limited color palette.

Each of these lessons will help you paint flowers more confidently and intuitively, so you can enjoy the process without overthinking. Try them out, and see how much your watercolor florals improve!

FAQs: Spring Flower Painting Questions

If you're new to watercolor florals (or even if you've been painting for a while), you might run into a few challenges along the way. From fixing mistakes to loosening up your style, here are some quick answers to common questions that can help you improve your spring flower painting tutorials experience and get better results.

What supplies do I need to start spring flower painting?

Good supplies make a huge difference! I recommend 100% cotton watercolor paper (for better blending), a mix of round brushes (sizes 2, 6, and 10), and high-quality watercolor paints for vibrant colors. If you’re not sure what to get, I have all my favorites here.

What’s the best way to fix mistakes in watercolor florals?

Mistakes happen, but don’t worry—watercolor is more forgiving than you think! If the paint is still wet, dab it with a dry brush or paper towel to lift excess color. If it’s dry, try layering over it with more paint or using a damp brush to gently blend and soften the area. For small details, a white gel pen or gouache can help fix highlights or edges.

How can I loosen up my painting style if my flowers feel too stiff or controlled?

Try painting without sketching first to embrace a more fluid, organic feel. Use a larger brush and paint with your whole arm instead of just your wrist. Setting a timer can also help—giving yourself only a few minutes per flower forces you to focus on shape and color rather than tiny details. Most importantly, practice letting go of perfection—watercolor looks best when it flows naturally!

Watercolor florals are all about embracing the process. If something isn’t working, take a step back, experiment, and most importantly, keep practicing. The more you paint, the more confident and free your florals will feel.

Want to Go Deeper? Join The Art Within!

If you’re loving spring flower painting and want to build real art skills, my online course, The Art Within, is the perfect next step.

This course isn’t just about painting pretty flowers—it’s about:

• Learning drills and exercises to strengthen your art skills
• Exploring color mixing, brush control, and composition
• Getting the confidence to create your own artistic style

It’s like art school without the crushing price tag.

Final Thoughts: Keep Painting and Enjoy the Process!

Spring is the perfect time to explore watercolor florals. The colors are fresh, the flowers are blooming, and there’s inspiration everywhere. But remember—you don’t have to paint every petal perfectly. Watercolor is all about flow, movement, and embracing imperfections.

Whether you’re painting a single flower or an entire floral arrangement, the most important thing is to enjoy the process. I hope these spring watercolor painting tutorials were helpful! Keep experimenting, keep practicing, and most of all, keep having fun with your spring flower painting!

Which spring flower are you most excited to paint? Come share your work with me on Instagram—I’d love to see what you're creating!