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Snapdragons

How to paint loose watercolour snapdragons

Level: Beginners

Watercolour snapdragons Harrow Art Class.jpg

Snapdragons are perfect for a loose watercolour painting. Their colourful flower spikes can be suggested with simple dabs, splashes and softly merging colours—there’s no need to paint every individual flower.

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You will need

  • Watercolour paper, 300gsm, NOT (or cold) pressed

  • A medium round brush

  • A smaller round brush

  • A waterproof fineliner

  • Two water pots

  • Kitchen roll

  • A pencil
     

Suggested colours

  • Cad Yellow or deep Cadmium Yellow

  • Pink or rose madder

  • Violet

  • Sap Green

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Try mixing the colours together on scrap paper before you start. Cadmium Red and Deep Cadmium Yellow will create warm oranges, while Cadmium Red and Purple will give you deeper pinks, reds and rich plum shades.  Sap Green and a tiny amount of pink or cad red will give you a green that you can find in nature.

Pixabay : Snapdragons

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Observation
 

Before painting, look at some real snapdragons or photos:
 

  • Look at the overall shape of each snapdragon rather than focusing on every flower. The flower spike is wider and fuller towards the lower half, gradually becoming narrower as it reaches the top.

  • As the flower grows the blooms at the bottom have larger gaps between them.  The green buds at the top are very tight together

  • The blooms emerge from short stalks that radiate all the way around the stem (not just left and right sides).  That means you won't paint the stem of those coming out towards you - just the flower on top of the stem.

  • The flower shape is loose, reminds me of popcorn. Sometimes there several colours complimentary colours in one bloom - great for the wet into wet technique.  

  • Notice you can see more of the petals in the lower ones.  Further up the stem the blooms are more upright

  • Vary the height, colour and position of your stems to create a more natural-looking arrangement.

     
Plan the composition

Lightly mark the position and approximate height of each flower spike with a single, slightly curved pencil line
 

Avoid making all the snapdragons the same height or spacing them too evenly. Allow some stems to sit slightly behind others and leave a little breathing space between the flowers.  Remember to leave enough space between stalks for the flowers
 

Step 1: Paint the first flower shapes

Begin near the lower part of a flower spike. Use the tip and side of your brush to make loose, irregular dabs of watery paint.
 

Let some marks touch and keep others separate. These shapes don’t need to look like complete individual flowers—the eye will bring them together.

snapdragon petals_edited.jpg
Drop in a second colour

While the first colour is still wet, drop another colour into some of the flower shapes and allow it to spread.


Try Cadmium Red into Deep Cadmium Yellow for warm coral and orange flowers, or Purple into Cadmium Red for deeper magenta and plum shades.


Avoid adding dark centres to every flower. The changing colours and overlapping brush marks will create enough definition.
 

Build the flower spike

Continue upwards, gradually making the painted area narrower.
 

Keep the flowers at the top smaller and more widely spaced. Use lighter, more delicate marks here, allowing a few touches of  green to suggest unopened buds.


Leave small gaps of white paper between some of the shapes so the flower remains light and lively.

Step 2: Add another layer

Once the first layer is dry, add a few stronger marks to selected areas—particularly around the lower and middle sections of the flower spike.

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You don’t need to outline or define everything. A handful of darker marks will create depth and help the softer first layer shine through.

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Step 3: Add the stems

When the paint is completely dry, draw the stems using a waterproof fineliner or paint them using green paint.

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Keep the lines relaxed and slightly uneven. Allow each stem to disappear behind the painted flowers rather than drawing one continuous line straight through them.

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Step 7: Finish with loose details

Add a few tiny painted or drawn marks around the tops of the stems to suggest buds. You can also include a small amount of splatter to bring movement and energy to the painting.

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Stop before everything feels completely finished. Snapdragons look much fresher when some details are left to the imagination.

watercolour snapdragon example.jpg

Tips

  • Use creamy paint for stronger flower shapes and more diluted paint for soft, pale areas.

  • Let colours mingle on the paper rather than mixing everything fully on the palette.

  • Vary the size and direction of your brush marks.

  • Keep the top of each flower spike light, narrow and delicate.

  • Allow each snapdragon to be slightly different.​

  • Don’t try to paint every individual flower—concentrate on the overall shape, colour and movement.

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"The magic of watercolour is letting the paint move. Don’t try to control everything.”

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If you give this another go, I'd love to see it.  Please tag me on instagram @kerryslackart

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