Sometimes, you just have to throw out the rulebook and let your imagination lead the way. That’s exactly what we did in this art journal session! Together, we painted a made-up flower that bloomed right off the page, with a whole lot of personality and a splash of purple and pink watercolor magic.

Prep your art journal page by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Mist your watercolor palette with water to activate the colors. 

Next, I sketched a simple circle in the middle of my art journal page using a permanent black pen. Don’t stress about making it perfect! If circles aren’t your thing, grab something round (like a jar lid or roll of tape) and lightly trace it. Inside that circle, I added a smaller one to create the flower’s center. Then, it was time to have a little fun.

Using loose, loopy lines (think “crazy eights” or little infinity signs), I filled the flower center with playful shapes. I added petals around the outer edge. The whole idea was to go with the flow – some petals were big, some small, and none of them matched. That’s the beauty of making it up as you go! Sketch leaves coming out of your flower as well.

Once the sketch was done, I grabbed my Odyssey watercolor set and got to painting. I started by pre-wetting each petal and then dropped in watercolor, letting the pigments flow naturally. I used soft purples and pinks and let the water do most of the blending. Holding the book at an angle helped guide the color exactly where I wanted it. It’s always so relaxing to watch watercolors do their thing.

Next, I mixed a greenish-yellow for the background and worked wet-on-wet again, dropping in the color loosely around the flower (avoiding the petals while they were still wet). Once that dried, I went back in with a deeper green for the leaves and stems.

For the flower center, I added a little splash of orange and brown to create some contrast, then let it dry completely before moving on to the final touches.

Once everything was dry, it was time for my favorite part – the details! Using my Sharpie pen, I outlined the petals, added fun sketchy lines, and filled in the center with heartbeat-style marks and wiggly scribbles. I also used my Aquarellable Pencil to add shading in the center and smudged it with my finger for a soft effect.

Next, I grabbed my fan brush, mixed a bit of deep purple and brown, and gave the page a few delicate splatters to finish it off. This project reminded me that not everything has to be planned or perfect. Sometimes, the best art comes from just sitting down, playing with your supplies, and seeing what happens.

Watch the replay below!

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Supply List:

• Strathmore 8 X 5.5 Watercolor Journal
• Painter’s Tape
• Watercolors:  Odyssey
• Dynasty Brush Set 
• Pencil: Aqurellable

Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!

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