Skill Level: Beginner
Orchids Sketch Watercolor Sketching Tutorial
Every year for Christmas, my family visits Peach State Orchids. We buy gorgeous orchids for Christmas presents (and a few for me)!
I always want to sketch there, but crowded delicate plants and 3 year olds need constant vigilance. So I usually sketch the orchids when I get home. This year, the greenhouse itself appealed to me so much I did a quick sketch of it when I got home. Here’s how I painted it!
This view is of mostly phalaenopsis orchids. Just a sea of bright, jewelike phalaenopsis. I have to admit my weaknesses are oncidium and phragmipedium.
Sketching Tutorial Level
5″ x 8″
Pentalic Aqua Journal
Escoda Full Bellied Round Squirrel, no.14
M. Graham watercolors
Azo Yellow
Cadmium Yellow
Quinacridone Red
Maroon Perylene
Cadmium Red
Nickel Azo Yellow
Pthalo Green
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Pink
Painting Demonstration 1
Some happy reds and ultramarine pink give a nice background color splash to work with. I splatter water and paint, having some fun with this loose little sketch.
Some yellow warms it up on the far side where I’ll blur the focus a bit.
(Sorry, I forgot to get written permission to share the photo online. The sketching technique works for any orchid grower or flower shop though!)
Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!
Painting Demonstration 2
A few dashes of the greenhouse structure is all I need to suggest it. This sketch is definitely about the flowers!
I start a base for the sketch with bright green leaves.
Painting Demonstration 3
The sketch has dried a little, so I can start layering. I’m just letting the brush dance around. A few suggestions of stems or petals are enough.
Bright colors always dry much lighter and duller. Don’t be afraid to paint a vibrant first wash!
Painting Demonstration 4
A few reflected greens in the ceiling pull the painting together more.
Painting Demonstration 5
A little more detail and lots of splatter!
Painting Demonstration 6
Some warm nickel azo yellow on the greenhouse ceiling helps connect everything. It was still a little too cool.
Painting Demonstration 7
I’m adding the last of the details to the sketch – and even more splatter paint. Since it is a sketch, I want the loose colorful happy feeling!
Final Watercolor Sketch!
And that’s it! A fun, happy sketch, full of life and color!
Happy Painting!
Related Art Lessons
All Paintings, Images, Videos, Text and Website Design Copyright 2022 by Jennifer Branch.
All Rights Reserved.
No Image, Video, Text or Website Design may be used without my written, specific permission.
White Phalaenopsis Orchid Watercolor Sketching Tutorial
I love sketching white phalaenopsis orchids in winter. They’re beautiful and keep blooming for a month. There’s something about having a flower blooming inside in the middle of winter. This white orchid sits on my hall table so I pass it constantly during the day. It always makes me smile!
Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!
Painting Demonstration 2
So naturally I had to sketch my orchid! One trick about sketching white flowers is always to place them against a dark background. How many famous white gardens are there that are best seen at dusk or dark? The dark makes whites luminous with any bit of light. Bright sunlight has so many highlights and white reflections you don’t notice the white flowers. Use the garden trick to make the white flowers glow in your painting!
Start with a very light sketch. Remember, every mark will show with a white flower!
Painting Demonstration 3
Next step is to start negative painting. I want the darks to be very bold, but not dull like most oil paintings. If I try to do the darks in one wash, they’ll be dull. Instead I use a lot of pigment and a lot of water. I’ll build up the darks in several layers, even in a little sketch. Remember, a wash will dry half as dark as when you paint it.
I paint just a tiny bit of the yellow inside the phalaenopsis. If I paint anything that touches that dark wash, it will bleed and be a huge mess. So stay away from the wash!
If you ever feel like you’re getting too serious and precise about a sketch, add some 1-2 colors of splatter paint, just a dash.If you’re feeling wimpy, splatter with clear clean water. That will loosen you up and remind you that sketching is fun!
Painting Demonstration 4
Now that the first background wash has dried for a few minutes, I can start adding some definition to the white phalaenopsis. Notice how light the first wash has dried, it’s looking almost faded compared to the luscious darks when it was wet!
I’m just carving out some basic shapes in the flowers, not adding much detail. Most of the shapes are added by pulling color from the background into the flowers with a clean wet brush. After all, while I want the flowers to stand out against the background, I want them to reflect it and have lost and found edges. If the orchids had more translucent petals I’d probably do this even more, but phalaenopsis have fairly thick petals that reflect more than they are transparent. I blur the orchid to the left more than the center flower. I don’t want it to become the center of interest.
I add a little bit of splatter because this just isn’t a serious painting, it’s a sketch. If you ever feel like you’re getting too serious and precise about a sketch, add some 1-2 colors of splatter paint, just a dash. If you’re feeling wimpy, splatter with clear clean water. That will loosen you up and remind you that sketching is fun!
Painting Demonstration 5
I add some shadows and detail around the orchid throat and lips. This is my center of interest so I want to make certain it has some detail. Remember to use colors for shadows that are in the background.White is lovely for reflected shadows.
Notice how the yellow shows up boldly because yellow is only in the orchid throat.
Painting Demonstration 6
One more wash of some luscious rich darks. I’m concentrating the color and the contrast around my center of interest and letting the color fade around the edges. Too much contrast will distract the viewer from where I want them to look. The background is still wet, notice how dark wet paint is.
I deepen the shadows around the orchid throat and lip a bit more. After all, this is my center of interest so I want it to have a bit more detail.
Final Watercolor Sketch!
Notice how the complete dark of the middle background dried to distinct colors in the final phalaenopsis orchid sketch. I add some splatter even though these lovely pristine white orchids have no spots. Splatter adds a bit of fun and looseness in a sketch.
I enjoyed sketching my phalaenopsis orchid. I have a very big weakness for painting white flowers. White flowers are all about transparency vs. translucency, reflection and shadows. So much fun to paint!
I hope this tutorial inspires you to enjoy an orchid this winter � and sketch it!
Happy Painting!
Related Art Lessons
All Paintings, Images, Videos, Text and Website Design Copyright 2022 by Jennifer Branch.
All Rights Reserved.
No Image, Video, Text or Website Design may be used without my written, specific permission.
Class Materials
- full-color picture of the painting (without the watermark)
- written instructions
- list of paint colors along with a color chart
- supply list
- a line drawing that you will trace onto your watercolor paper to use as a guide
- one PDF file with a single sheet line drawing that will need to be printed at a print shop in full size
- one PDF file with a multi-sheet line drawing that you can print at home on 8 1/2 x11 paper then piece it together
“White Orchid” Painting Packet
- As a bonus, you will receive a complimentary painting packet so that you can paint this “White Orchid” painting. This painting uses similar techniques to what you will learn in the video painting lesson.
- If you are looking for more beginner painting lessons, be sure to check out the Wild Roses and Berries Video Lesson, the Pink Tulip Video Lesson, or the Acrylic Daisies Painting Lesson.
The packet includes:
- full-color picture of the painting (without the watermark)
- written instructions
- supply list and color swatch
- a line drawing that you will trace onto your watercolor paper to use as a guide
- You’ll get a PDF file with a single sheet line drawing that you can print out at home.
