Illustration

Watercolor Tutorial: Paint a Leaf, Step-by-Step

Learn how to draw a Swiss Cheese Plant leaf from scratch with Luli Reis

Creating a botanical watercolor is a delicate process of observation that allows you to recreate the colors, shadows, textures and effects you only find looking at natural splendor and beauty. Which is why it’s important to have the leaf, flower or plant (or very high resolution images) at hand to work from.

In this tutorial, artist, illustrator, designer and botanical watercolor expert Luli Reis (@lulireis), teaches you the basic steps to create a botanical watercolor of a Swiss Cheese Plant from scratch.

Don’t miss it:

You will need the following materials for this tutorial: watercolor paper and paints, paintbrushes, a mixing palette, kitchen roll and water.

1. Wet the center of the leaf

Start painting from the center of the leaf, dip your brush in the water and moisten only the central areas. Don’t try and stay within the line, you can wait for that area to dry out before starting to shade the other sections of the leaf. Start with more watery paint to achieve a light green shade.

Wet the center of the leaf
Wet the center of the leaf

2. Use a darker shade to create depth

Use less watery paint in the sections where you want to create darker shades. You can also mix your greens to achieve a more natural effect. Then wait for your paint to dry.

Reinforce the second layer with darker shades
Reinforce the second layer with darker shades

3. Go over the second layer using darker shades

Once the first layer is dry, start creating a second layer by reinforcing the regions that need darker tones. This will give your leaf greater depth and more shadow.

Simply use a clean brush soaked in clean water to soften the color in a particular area. Gently brush the desired area and your color will be softer or lighter, creating a little degradé. Wait for the paint to dry again after your second layer, before starting on the details.

To create depth in the leaf, use a darker tone
To create depth in the leaf, use a darker tone

4. Use a 0 brush to create details

Use a 0 brush and a very dark shade to create details that help the leaf jump off the paper and achieve a 3D effect. You can also use the same brush to lighten a few areas to highlight the details. This will help give your illustration more depth.

Use a number 0 (zero) brush with a very dark shade of green to create details that will help the sheet come off the paper
Use a number 0 (zero) brush with a very dark shade of green to create details that will help the sheet come off the paper

Like this tutorial? Luli Reis will teach you how to create a botanical illustration using shapes, colors and textures in her online course: Botanical Watercolor: Illustrate the Anatomy of Flowers.

English version by @studiogaunt

Recommended courses

Creative Watercolor Sketching for Beginners. Illustration course by Laura McKendry

Creative Watercolor Sketching for Beginners

A course by Laura McKendry

Paint exciting watercolor illustrations by exploring playful and unconventional techniques in your sketchbook

  • 95,112
  • 99% (2.3K)
FINAL DAYS
95% Disc.
Original price $19.99USD
Buy $0.99USD
Procreate for Beginners: Digital Illustration 101. Illustration course by Brad Woodard
Domestika Basics · 7 courses

Procreate for Beginners: Digital Illustration 101

A course by Brad Woodard

Learn to use the app from scratch and create professional artwork from your iPad Pro

  • 103,084
  • 97% (975)
FINAL DAYS
93% Disc.
Original price $29.99USD
Buy $1.99USD
Specialization in Creative Writing and Children's Illustration . Illustration, and Writing course by Domestika
Domestika Specialization · 14h

Specialization in Creative Writing and Children's Illustration

A specialization by multiple teachers

Write captivating children's books by exploring narrative techniques and age-appropriate language for young readers.

  • 1,185
  • 100% (2)
FINAL DAYS FREE WITH PLUS
94% Disc.
Original price $99.99USD
Buy $5.99USD
0 comments