Poppy Painting: Easy Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Painting a poppy flower is a fun and simple activity that can be done with various art supplies, such as acrylic paints or watercolours. The poppy is a vibrant flower with a rich history and is often used as a symbol of remembrance. When painting a poppy, it is important to start with a sketch to guide your composition and the direction of your flower. You can then begin to paint the basic shape of the poppy, using a wet-on-wet technique to maintain the transparency of the petals. The choice of colours is up to you, but a bright red is often a popular choice for poppies, with darker colours like green or grey added to the edges of the petals to create depth.

Sketching the poppy

Sketching is a crucial step in painting a poppy flower, as it provides a guide to follow during the painting process. Here is a step-by-step guide to sketching a poppy flower:

Start by using a thin pencil to lightly sketch the outline of the poppy flower. It is important to remember not to press the pencil too hard against the paper to avoid leaving hard eraser marks. Your sketch should be very light, almost twice as light as a regular pencil sketch. This will ensure that the pencil marks do not show through the watercolour layer.

Begin by sketching the basic loose shape of the poppy, keeping in mind the direction in which the flower will be facing. Sketch the poppy in different directions to create a variation of views in your composition. You can sketch the petals one by one, starting with the top left petal. Remember to leave a gap between the petals to create a sense of depth in your sketch.

Once you have the basic shape of the poppy sketched out, you can start adding details to the petals. Use a pencil to lightly sketch the veins and texture of the petals. Remember to keep your pencil light and avoid pressing too hard to prevent visible marks under your watercolour layer.

After you are satisfied with the details on the petals, you can start sketching the stem of the poppy. The stem should be thin to give the flower a delicate appearance. You can add a darker tone to the stem by adding a little red to your green paint to create a sense of depth and direction of light.

Finally, sketch the pistils and stamens with pointy moves in the centre of the flower. This step is optional, but it adds detail and makes your poppy more realistic. Remember, it is important to know when to stop sketching and move on to the painting part. Do not overdo it with the details, as the beauty of poppies lies in their simplicity.

Choosing the right brushes

When painting with watercolours, consider using a natural brush, such as a round sable brush, for covering large petals. Natural brushes hold more water, allowing you to spread the paint evenly across the petal. For smaller details and more precise control over paint and water, opt for a round synthetic brush. Synthetic brushes require you to have more water on hand to avoid dry-looking strokes.

The size of the brush you choose will depend on the size of your painting. For a large poppy flower that takes up a significant portion of the paper, a larger brush, such as a 1-inch flat brush, can be used for the main part of the flower. If you're painting smaller poppies or working on a smaller canvas, a 3/4-inch brush or a smaller size may be more suitable.

For adding intricate details, such as the centre of the poppy, select a fine-tipped brush. This will allow you to create thin lines, curved flicks, and dots with precision. A liner brush can also be useful for dragging out filaments of colour, as seen in some techniques for painting the petals.

It's important to have a variety of brush sizes and types available when painting a poppy flower to ensure you have the right tool for each step of the process. Don't be afraid to experiment with different brushes to find the ones that work best for your specific painting style and the effects you wish to achieve.

Painting the petals

Firstly, sketch your poppy with a thin pencil. Make sure you don't press too hard, as hard lines are difficult to erase and will be visible under the paint. Sketch the poppy in different directions to give your composition a variation of views.

Now, for the painting! Using a natural brush, apply clean water to the petal, then add a layer of red paint. You can use any red you like, but a rich and bright shade is best. While the paint is still wet, add a drop of yellow paint to give the poppy depth. For the top petal, drag your brush lightly back and forth in a fan shape, aiming for three sections with the top wider. Keep the edges jagged to create a papery effect.

For the bottom petal, closest to the viewer, add a touch of the same red colour along the edges to give it depth. Define the shape while the paint is still wet. You can also add some dark edges to indicate petal separations with a corner of your brush and some Burgundy Wine paint. Remember, you don't need to be exact or life-like!

Finally, once everything is dry, add the poppy centres. Paint a dark half-circle above the bottom petal, then use the tip of a fine brush to pull out curved flicks, like eyelashes. Finish with a half-circle of dots by dabbing your brush tip around the edges of the lines.

Adding depth and detail

Firstly, it is crucial to sketch your poppies in different directions to give your composition variation. This pencil sketch will be a guide to help you navigate the placement and direction of your flowers. Using a thin pencil with light strokes is recommended, as hard lines are difficult to erase and may show through your paint.

When painting the petals, use the wet-on-wet technique, adding more water than pigment to maintain transparency and create a light appearance. Leave the centres of the petals unpainted until the final steps, where you can add depth by defining the edges with the same red colour. You can also add a touch of yellow paint to the red while it is still wet to create a smooth blend with no definitive lines.

For the centre of the flower, use a fine brush to paint a dark half-circle, then pull out curved flicks, resembling eyelashes. Finish with a half-circle of dots by dabbing your brush around the edges. For added depth, consider using dark grey instead of black, as true black can look flat against the rich red petals.

To make the stem look more delicate, keep it thin and use a darker tone of green by adding a little red to your paint. You can also add splatters of green or red to make your painting more interesting and impactful.

Finally, remember that it is important to know when to stop adding details. Step back and evaluate your painting, and don't overdo it with too many small details.

Finishing touches

Now that your poppy is almost ready, you can add some final details to make it more realistic and vibrant. If you feel like your flower is missing some details, such as thin veins, this is the moment to add them. Remember, it is important to know when to stop and not overdo it.

For the main part of the poppy, use a 1" flat brush or a 3/4" brush if that is what you have. Double-load your brush with two shades of red, such as Apple Red and Engine Red, or Wine and Crimson. You can also add a touch of orange to the centre of the petals to give them depth.

Add some dark edges to indicate petal separations by lightly pulling some Burgundy Wine into the corner of your brush. You can also add some grey paint to your green to tone down its brightness.

Finally, add the poppy centres. Paint a dark half-circle above the bottom petal, then use the tip of a fine brush to pull out curved flicks, like eyelashes. Finish with a half-circle of dots by dabbing your brush tip around the edges of the lines.

Frequently asked questions