Floral Gouache Painting
DRAW 101 – Drawing II: Composition and Media (Winter 2022)
Medium: Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Gouache, Fine-Line Pens
Focus: Composition, Color Theory, Mixed Media, Still Life Interpretation
Project Overview:
This piece was created during my second drawing course, where we explored new media and compositional structure. While I typically found still life to be a challenge, I leaned into my love for color, softness, and natural flow by choosing a floral subject—something that aligned with my personal aesthetic of bright pastel visuals.
Process:
I started by collecting and arranging reference photos of various flowers. Once I felt happy with the overall composition, I drew each flower by hand using graphite pencils. The painting phase was done with watercolor gouache, allowing me to layer soft transitions of color. As a final detail, I used a variety of pen tip sizes to outline each flower, giving them a subtle comic or sticker-like contrast against the watercolor wash.
Reflection:
This was one of the first times I felt proud of a full traditional piece. It reminded me that even in areas I don’t feel fully confident (like still life), I can still create work that reflects my voice and brings joy to the viewer. This piece helped me grow more confident in layering techniques, contrast control, and trusting my color instincts.
