In this watercolor painting tutorial, you’ll learn how to paint an Indian Paintbrush flower also known as the Prairie Fire flower. This wildflower is known for its vibrant red color and unique petal shapes. I love seeing Indian Paintbrushes in nature because they’re always so striking against a sea of green grass.
This tutorial is broken down into two sections. We’ll start by learning how to draw the petals and then I’ll share how to paint this beautiful wildflower in a loose watercolor style.
Click HERE if you want to skip right to the painting section, or watch the YouTube video for a full step-by-step painting class!
Supplies
Clean Water
Paper Towels
These are some of my favorite supplies, but they’re not must-haves. Feel free to use any supplies you have readily available. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process of painting!
This blog post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Feel free to follow along with this tutorial, but if you’re more of a visual learner, you can follow along with me in a video tutorial and get a free traceable Indian Paintbrush drawing here.
Drawing The Petals
The Indian Paintbrush flower has distinct petals that point in different directions. I will show you three different methods for how to capture them in different perspectives. Just like bluebonnets, the general shape of this flower is similar to a lollipop, where the petals are directly attached to the stem.
Note: I’m drawing with a Sharpie so that you can see it on camera, but you’ll want to draw your guidelines with pencil!
Petal Method 1: The Overturned Petal
Before we start drawing the whole flower, let’s break it down into smaller shapes. Below, we’ll practice how to draw the unique blossom shapes.
Start by drawing a line resembling an elongated checkmark with a slight curve.
Next, connect the start of the checkmark to the tail of the checkmark with another line.
Then, draw a “J” shape from the tail of the checkmark to form the petal.
After that, start with your pencil at the beginning of the checkmark, then hover it over the overturned tip of the petal, and complete the petal by connecting that line to the “J” shape.
The act of hovering over a spot on your drawing and picking it up on the other side is called “ghosting”. This is a great way to ensure that you’re placing your lines in the correct spot!
Repeat the process, this time making your check mark and “J” shape backwards. This will make the petal appear to bend the opposite way.
Note: This can be a real brain bender, so take your time with the drawing steps, give yourself grace if you don’t get it right away, and follow along with my video tutorial if you need any extra guidance.
Petal Method 2: The Folded Petal
To make a folded petal, start by drawing a curved line with a small loop at the bottom. It should look like a deflated balloon.
From the bottom of the loop, curve a line back towards the stem to create a folded petal.
Then, add a stem and some shading to make the fold and direction of the petal even clearer.
Petal Method 3: The Front-Facing Petal
For the front-facing petal, you want to start with a wide “U” or “V” shape.
Then, add a slight ruffle at the top. The shape of the petal should look like a flame.
Painting the Flower
The Indian Paintbrush is known for its vibrant red petals. Grab some red paint and we’ll begin painting using the petal shapes you learned in the drawing portion as a guide.
Remember, we’re painting in a loose style, but knowing how the petals are shaped will make your loose Indian Paintbrush look that much more striking. You’re essentially going to be drawing with your paintbrush, so practicing the different shapes and angles above will make your painting pop!
Painting the Petals
Start by using a pencil to sketch out the lollipop shape of your Indian Paintbrush. Draw the stem down the center and a loose, light oval to give you a guideline for placing the petals.
Make sure this is a super light drawing in pencil. My example below is dark so you can see it on camera, but yours should be just barely visible.
Then use the tip of your brush to draw the outline of the petal.
If you want to paint the example drawing on the left, you can download the traceable image here!
While your painted outline is still wet, fill in the petal shape. For the folded petals like this one, you can add more pigment to the underside of the petal to give the illusion that it’s in shadow.
Continue to add petals in different perspectives that come off of the central stem area.
Loosely paint the structure of the petals using the drawing techniques as your guide.
Important Tip: Be sure to leave white space in between the petals. White space helps to define the petals and it also gives you room to add leaves and a stem. Remember, wildflowers (and all things in nature) are perfectly imperfect. Keeping your petals loose and organic will help capture the essence of this beautiful wildflower.
Painting the Stem and Leaves
Next, it is time to add the stem! Load your brush with your favorite green paint and paint a thin line through the middle of the leaves.
Note: Red and green are complementary colors which means that they will make a muddy brown color when mixed together. You’ll want to take care as you paint your stem to avoid creating that dull color in your painting. If you need help with this,check out this section of the video tutorial where I walk through how to blend red and green paint without muddying up your composition.
Now, it is time to paint the leaves. For these long Indian Paintbrush leaves, start by using light pressure with the tip of your round brush, then use heavy pressure to drag down to the belly of the brush, and pull back up to the tip again.
Continue adding long, overlapping leaves to give your Indian Paintbrush the wild look you see in nature.
If you want more in-depth instructions on how I like to paint leaves, check out this Loose Watercolor Leaves Tutorial in my Free Watercolor Facebook Group (Note: you have to join the group to access the tutorial – it’s free and full of supportive watercolor artists just like you!)
Layering and Final Touches
Once the initial layers are dry, you can go back to add extra detail to your painting. Use darker reds and greens to create shadows and depth.
Grab a small brush to add shadows and contour lines to the petals. This will help define the petals and show how they bend and twist.
Next, add shadows and details to the leaves and stem. Defining your leaves by adding a center vein and other contour lines can make a huge difference in your loose paintings. It instantly elevates your artwork and gives it a more polished touch.
And there you have it! A completed Indian Paintbrush Flower! Don’t forget that you can get a free traceable Indian Paintbrush drawing and follow along with me in a video tutorial by clicking here!
Feel free to share your painting in my Free Watercolor Facebook Group. I’d love to see what you make!
Happy painting,
Alex
Related Posts
