Roses are a complex flower to paint, especially when you aim to keep it loose and painterly. However, there is nothing better than achieving a perfect flower with minimal brush strokes, and that’s what I hope to help you with today.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for you if you love watercolors and want to learn basic strokes to paint on thank you notes, birthday cards, notepads, and for scrapbooking. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your technique, this guide will help you create beautiful, simple watercolor roses.

What will you learn?

I will take you through the steps and all the materials and brushes I used to achieve this simple watercolor rose. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be able to paint a rose in just eight steps.

How simple is this rose?

Just eight steps/brush strokes are all you need to paint this rose. Plus, a few additional strokes for the leaves! It's straightforward and perfect for those looking to create quick, beautiful floral art.

Materials used?

Printer sheets
Round Brush
Filbert Brush
Windsor & Newton Watercolor Paints
Watercolor Paper (300gsm)

Paper: I practice a lot on regular printer sheets because they are not expensive, and I don’t mind using as many as I need before I start painting on watercolor paper. For the final artwork, 300gsm watercolor paper is perfect.
Brushes: Basic brushes can be found in any art store or on Amazon. You will need a round brush for general strokes and a filbert brush to create the full petals of the rose.
Paints: While any basic watercolor paint will suffice, Windsor & Newton Watercolor Paints are preferred by artists for their vibrant pigments and smooth application.

Let’s Paint a Rose!

Steps 1 - 4

Use a round brush. Start with the pointed tip of the brush and press down as you move before lifting the brush. This will help you create the initial petals of the rose.

Steps 5 - 8

Switch to a filbert brush. This brush helps with thick, full strokes, allowing you to add volume and shape to your rose petals. Also, note that the petals in steps 5 and 6 are positioned at an angle to each other.

Steps 9 - 12

For these steps, you can use either a round or a filbert brush, depending on your preference for the thickness of the stroke. I have used a filbert brush here to add final details and leaves.

By following these steps, you'll be able to create beautiful, painterly roses with minimal effort. Happy painting!

Download Your Free Printable Watercolor Rose!

As a reference and a keepsake, you can download the printable file of this dressed-up rose! Sign up to get the downloadable file!

If you are unable to download the file, please reach out to me!

(This is solely recommended for personal use only and not intended for commercial use. The images and designs are copyrighted and are protected under applicable intellectual property laws. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution is prohibited)

Paint a Simple Watercolor Painterly Rose in 8 Steps