Magnolia Flower
mini-course with Laurel Dawn
In this course, you'll paint a delicate star magnolia in watercolor, creating graceful petals and a soft, atmospheric composition.
You'll learn to use light, shadow, smooth color transitions, and a dreamy bokeh background to add depth.
The course is suitable for both beginners and experienced watercolor artists.
Material: watercolor
Duration: 8 hours
Access: unlimited
In this mini-course you'll learn to:
- Paint a delicate star magnolia in watercolor step by step
- Use light and shadow to create depth and dimension in the petals
- Achieve soft, seamless color transitions and natural-looking tones
- Paint a dreamy bokeh background that enhances the focal flower
- Create a balanced botanical composition with a light, elegant feel
Laurel
DawnWatercolor artist
An award-winning watercolor artist specializing in luminous, highly detailed realism.- Creates flowers, textiles, and everyday objects using layered transparent washes.
- An Elected Member of the CSPWC and the FCA.
- Work featured in international juried exhibitions.
- Teaches a structured, supportive approach to mastering light, shadow, and transparent watercolor techniques.
Artist's paintings
Course materials
1. Paper:
- Arches Watercolour Paper Cold Press 300 g/m or 640 g/m
- My paper was 13″ x 13″ taped to a finished size of 12″ x 12″
- Note: if using 300 g/m the paper will need to be stretched before beginning tutorial
- Masking, painters or washi tape for paper edges
2. Brushes:
- Silver Black Velvet Round — 12, 10, 6, 4, 2
- Eradicator Brush or acrylic brush in a small and/or medium size
3. Paint:
- Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors — Phthalo Blue PB15, Perylene Green PBk31
- Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour — Quinacridone Magenta PR122, Winsor Lemon PY175, Indanthrene Blue PB60
- Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache in Permanent White
Inside the course: guided practice sessions
Before the final magnolia painting, Laurel Dawn guides you through the essential skills step by step — so you can build confidence before bringing everything together.
Drawing a subject using the Grid Method or tracing of supplied sketch · 14 min
Learn how to use the Grid Method or trace the supplied sketch to accurately transfer the magnolia from photo to paper while keeping the proportions balanced.
Mastering Dimensional Form: Petals & Leaves · 30 min
Discover how light, shadow, and subtle value changes transform flat shapes into soft, three-dimensional petals and lifelike foliage.
Creating a Bokeh Background: Paint Soft, Out-of-Focus Elements to Make Your Subject Pop · 19 min
Learn how to paint blurred, out-of-focus light effects that add atmosphere and depth while making the magnolia stand out beautifully in the foreground.
Pricing
Full access
- 8 hours of step-by-step video: theory + real-time practice
- 1 finished painting — «Magnolia Flower»
- Machine-translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Lifetime access to all course materials
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