Negative Watercolor Painting for Botanical Illustration
A course by Cristina Cilloniz, Botanical Illustrator
Joined November 2017
Learn how to paint botanical pieces that are full of life with a technique ideal for creating depth effects
Joined November 2017
Botanical artist and illustrator Cristina Cilloniz unites two passions in her illustrated projects: nature and watercolors. She discovered the technique of negative watercolor painting through her constant search for new ways to recreate the beauty of plants and flowers, among other elements. This technique has enabled her to create a feeling of depth through the build-up of layers, and create illustrations that seem to jut out of the page, by giving special attention to the background in her compositions.
In this course, you will learn how to use the negative watercolor technique, with the use of natural elements. Starting from the initial creative illustration process, learn how to create a mood board, a color palette, and useful exercises to warm up the hand, until you have learned all you need to create your finished project.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 12 downloads
- 99% positive reviews (1.3K)
- 21,644 students
- 15 lessons (1h 48m)
- 12 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · Italian · French · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Paint a watercolor illustration with a selection of your favorite flowers and leaves.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For those who enjoy painting with watercolors and have an interest in improving their botanical illustration technique.
Requirements and materials
It is recommended to have basic illustration skills for this course.
You will need watercolors, round-tip and flat-tip paintbrushes, paper, pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, a kneaded eraser, masking tape or blotting paper, among other materials that Cristina will outline throughout the course.
Reviews
Cristina Cilloniz
A course by Cristina Cilloniz
For Cristina Cilloniz, watercolor was a source of creativity and growth at a crucial moment in her life. An architect by profession and passionate about nature, she decided to change the trajectory of her life in 2016, when she began to dedicate herself exclusively to botanical watercolor illustration and turned it into a tool to explore, heal and share.
He has collaborated with renowned brands such as L'Occitane, Patagonia and Faber-Castell in different formats: stationery products, wallpapers, fabrics and wood.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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What will we do in the course?
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U2
Before starting
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Watercolor in negative
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materials
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Colour
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Exercises to release the hand (part 1)
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Exercises to release the hand (part 2)
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U3
To paint!
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Mood board and sketch
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Painting the background
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Watercolor layers
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Details
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U4
Presentation of the work
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Care and maintenance
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Network photography
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Scanning, editing and other uses
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FP
Final project
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Negative watercolor techniques for botanical illustration
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Botanical watercolor illustration is an artistic technique that accurately depicts plants and flowers in detail using watercolors. It’s used to create decorative art, scientific illustrations, textile products, and murals, while also fostering creativity and a connection with nature.
The course is designed for intermediate level, perfect for those who already have basic watercolor knowledge and want to deepen their skills in techniques like negative painting and botanical composition.
You’ll need watercolors (pan or tube), synthetic brushes, pencil, watercolor paper or cardstock, masking fluid, a water container, and a palette. Having access to a camera or scanner to digitize your work is also recommended.
You’ll learn negative watercolor techniques, botanical composition, color mixing, creating depth, digitizing illustrations, and how to share your portfolio on Instagram or create related products.
Depth is achieved by layering colors, reserving light areas, and using progressively darker tones, creating a sense of depth and visual hierarchy in your composition.
Yes, the course teaches you how to scan, photograph, edit, and prepare your botanical watercolor illustrations for sharing on social media or applying to products.
Yes, you’ll learn to use the color wheel, mix primary colors, create gradients, and select color palettes that harmonize your botanical compositions.
Excelente. Bien explicado y con técnicas concretas. Es un gusto escuchar a la artista, muy lindo tono de su voz , transmite de manera tranquila y clara
O curso foi mto bom. Eu aproveitei bastante e curti ter masi contato com aquarela. Necessito praticar mais.
Excellent course.
Excelente curso. Muy organizada y muy didáctica.
Loved the course. A new style of painting with watercolor. Thanks!