How to Choose the Right Techniques and Steps in Botanical Watercolor Art
A Simple Guide to Planning Your Botanical Illustrations with Confidence
Recently, a student from my Skillshare class “Botanical Illustration – Advanced Watercolor Techniques” asked a question that really stood out:
“How do you decide which technique to use when there’s more than one option? And how do you determine the order of steps in a botanical painting?”
This question is so important—and honestly, it’s not something that can be answered in just a few lines. So I’ve created this guide to help you navigate those decisions when working on botanical watercolors.
🌿 Why a Painting Strategy Matters
Choosing the right watercolor technique and knowing when to apply it is key to creating detailed, realistic botanical illustrations. Whether you’re just starting out or have painted for years, having a thoughtful plan can elevate your work.
Here’s how to think through your approach step by step.
🔍 Step 1: Understand the Subject
Observation
Start with careful observation. Look closely at your subject’s textures, shapes, color gradients, and how light interacts with it. Notice the soft transitions in petals, the hard edges of veins, or the fuzziness on certain leaves.
Research
Look at photos, botanical references, or even other artists’ interpretations of the same plant. Collect visual inspiration and note any consistent patterns, surfaces, or details you’ll need to paint.
🎨 Step 2: Choose the Right Techniques
✔️ Wet-on-Wet
Perfect for soft, translucent areas like petals or blended color washes. It helps you capture that natural, glowing effect.
✔️ Wet-on-Dry
Ideal for precise details like leaf veins, sharp edges, or layered textures where you want more control.
✔️ Layering
Build depth by starting with light washes and gradually adding darker tones. This slow buildup helps control contrast.
✔️ Blending or Brush Marks
Decide if you want smooth transitions or visible strokes, depending on the texture of your subject.
✔️ Detailing Techniques
Use fine brushes or techniques like stippling or dry brush for finishing details—like hairlines on stems or tiny seeds.
📋 Step 3: Plan the Order of Steps
1. Sketch
Begin with a light pencil sketch to map out your composition.
2. Base Layers
Lay down loose washes to block in the overall color scheme. I typically use wet-on-wet at this stage—unless I’m working on tiny subjects.
3. Layer Building
Add color gradually, moving from light to dark. For the first couple of layers, I continue using wet-on-wet depending on the subject’s texture and depth.
4. Detailing
Once the base is dry, move to wet-on-dry or fine brushes for detailed work: leaf veins, edges, shadows.
5. Final Touches
Add the deepest shadows and brightest highlights to bring it all to life. For crisp highlights, consider using white gouache or a white gel pen.
🧪 Step 4: Test & Experiment
Don’t jump straight into your final painting if you’re unsure. Test techniques on a scrap sheet to preview how the effects will look.
✨ Pro Tip: The best artists test and tweak constantly—it’s not cheating, it’s part of the process.
💪 Step 5: Trust the Process
With time and practice, you’ll begin to intuitively know what works best for your style and your subject.
Be flexible—sometimes your painting will take you in a different direction than you planned.
Keep experimenting. Spend just 10 minutes a day playing with techniques and textures.
🧡 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right watercolor technique for botanical art is part knowledge, part observation, and part instinct. With each painting, you’ll develop a stronger sense of timing, order, and method that works for your creative voice.
🎁 Have Questions? Let’s Connect!
If you're a student in any of my Skillshare classes, I offer a FREE 30-minute 1-on-1 Q&A session. Bring your questions and I’d love to help you out.
📩 Reach me on Instagram [@markdisha] or email me to book a call.
Let’s paint beautiful things together!
