SImple Painting Tutorial | Flowers in a Jam Jar

Hey friends, welcome back! Today, I'm excited to share a simple and fun tutorial that’s perfect for beginners or anyone who loves floral art. We’ll be painting a loose floral bouquet in a charming little jam jar. I’ll show you how to get that lovely blurred effect of flower stems in a jar. This is a great way to experiment with capturing shapes and colors rather than focusing on detailed realism. So let's GO!

Supplies You’ll Need:

Before we start, let’s go over the supplies. I’m using hot pressed watercolor paper, but cold pressed will work too. We’ll be working with gouache for its beautiful opacity, and I mix in a little black watercolor for darker tones. For brushes, I like using a variety of filbert and round brushes. And of course, you’ll need a cute jam jar for water—after you’ve enjoyed the jam! Make sure to have two glasses of clean water and some paper towels for blotting your brushes.

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Step-by-Step Floral Painting

We’ll begin by looking at our bouquet and thinking about shapes and colors. The trick is to keep it loose and not worry about painting every petal. Start by painting some white flowers using gouache mixed with a little green and blue for a soft, muted look. Then, we’ll add greens for the leaves and a touch of purple for contrast.

One of the fun parts of this painting is capturing the look of the water in the jar. We’ll use a light gray to paint the water and shadows, giving it a realistic, slightly blurred look. I love using the wet-on-wet technique to blend the colors softly and create that natural, fluid effect. We’ll also paint the label on the jar but keep it abstract and sketchy, focusing on the general lines and shapes.

Adding Final Details

Once we’re happy with our flowers and jar, it’s time to add some final touches. I like using a pencil to add sketchy details. It gives the painting a loose, artistic feel. A few light pencil strokes can really make the flowers pop and add that extra bit of texture. Remember, this is your art, so feel free to get creative and add your own flair!

Join Me on Patreon for More Art Fun!

If you enjoyed this tutorial and want to dive deeper into floral painting, consider joining me on Patreon. I host live art classes every month where we can paint together in real-time. You’ll also get access to all the past classes, so there’s always something new to learn. For just $10 a month, you can be a part of our creative community. I’d love to see you there! Join me on Patreon here.

Thanks for painting with me! Don’t forget to share your jam jar bouquets with me on Instagram @ShaydaCampbell. Use the hashtag #shaydamademedrawit so I can see your beautiful creations!

Happy painting!

Shayda