Flower Fever Dream: Creating a Whimsical Watercolor Portrait
Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Have you ever stumbled across something that immediately sparked your creativity? That's exactly what happened to me! While scrolling through Instagram, I came across a "draw this in your style" challenge by an artist named Nina Clausonet (I hope I'm pronouncing that right!). Her digital illustration featured a girl with pink skies, clouds, and a dreamy beam coming from her head, surrounded by flowers.
Since I already love painting people and flowers, this felt like the perfect challenge to take on. I wasn't directly referencing her work—just taking the concept of "girl, flowers, pink" and putting my own watercolor spin on it.
Working with Challenging Paper
Sometimes we have to make do with what we have on hand! I initially wanted to use hot press paper for this project, but after digging through my supply "archive" (let's be honest, it's more of a creative mess), I settled on a Windsor and Newton 10x14 cold press that's a cellulose and cotton blend.
I'll be honest—this paper almost rejects water, which isn't ideal for watercolor work. But part of being an artist is adapting to your materials, and sometimes these challenges can lead to interesting techniques and textures you wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
Creating a Monochromatic Pink Palette
For this dreamy portrait, I opted for a vibrant monochromatic pink palette using Daniel Smith watercolors:
Rhodonite Genuine for the light pink base tones
Quinacridone Magenta for mid-tone shadows
Rose of Ultramarine for cooler shadows and deeper values
Here's a quick tip about working with Quinacridone Magenta: while it looks incredibly bright and punchy when wet, it dries significantly muted and about 50% lighter. This dramatic shift can catch you off guard if you're not expecting it, so don't be afraid to go a bit darker than you think you need to!
Embracing the Process and Fighting Impatience
One of my biggest challenges when painting is patience. I'm constantly reminding myself that good paintings take time and multiple layers. While mapping out the initial composition—the dreamy beam from her head and hints of flowers—I had to fight the urge to jump ahead to the details.
Do I always listen to my own advice about taking it slow? Absolutely not! But I'm working on it, and that's part of the artistic journey. If you're impatient like me, just remember that those extra layers and that extra time really do make a difference in the final piece.
Adding Texture and Happy Accidents
Sometimes the best elements in a painting come from happy accidents! I lifted the paper to let water drip down, creating some gorgeous watermarks on the forehead. These unplanned elements add character and dreaminess to the portrait.
To enhance the "flower fever dream" concept, I re-wetted the flower area on top of her head and added Alizarin Crimson brusho powder. Using a spray bottle, I created bursts radiating outward from her head—as if her dreams were literally exploding into reality. These techniques create texture and dimension that's nearly impossible to achieve with a brush alone.
Working with Values in Monochromatic Painting
The beauty of working in a monochromatic palette is that it simplifies the painting process. Instead of worrying about realistic skin tones or complex color relationships, I could focus entirely on values—the lights, darks, shadows, and highlights.
This approach lets me concentrate on creating recognizable forms through shadow and light. Remember: don't be afraid to go dark! I sometimes have a habit of going too dark too quickly (still working on that), but adding those deep shadow areas really brings dimension to your piece and makes the lighter areas pop.
Finding Flow with Background Entertainment
Want a great painting tip that has nothing to do with technique? Find something entertaining to listen to while you work! For this piece, I had some funny YouTube videos playing in the background—something about "how Florida is even a thing."
Having something that keeps you engaged without demanding your full attention is perfect for detail work. It prevents you from getting too perfectionist about your art while keeping you entertained enough to stick with the process. Just make sure it's not so interesting that you stop painting to watch!
Painting Roses: Simple Yet Effective
Roses might seem complicated, but they're actually quite simple to paint once you understand the basic approach. The technique is straightforward:
Create spirals coming from the center
Add jagged edges to suggest petals
Use patience (my eternal struggle!)
I'm not aiming for botanical perfection here—this is an impressionistic, dreamlike piece. If you're a detail-oriented botanical painter, my approach might make you twitch a little, but that's okay! Different styles serve different purposes.
Letting the Painting Guide You
One of my favorite parts of this intuitive painting process was discovering a hibiscus flower in the brusho powder splatter. Instead of sticking rigidly to my original "roses only" plan, I embraced what the painting was telling me and developed that area into a tropical flower.
This is such an important lesson in art—sometimes you need to let the painting tell you what it wants to be! Just like finding shapes in clouds, I looked for botanical forms in my "watery mess" and followed where they led me. The plan was "young woman, flowers coming out of her head, color pink," but the specific flowers emerged organically from the process.
Negative Painting for Ethereal Effects
To create those dreamy, ethereal flower shapes, I used a lot of negative painting. Rather than painting the petals directly, I painted the spaces around them, allowing the original wash to define the petals themselves.
For some petals, particularly on the hibiscus in the upper right corner, I purposely let the edges fade into the background—creating what artists call "lost and found edges." This technique adds to the dreamlike quality of the piece, letting some elements be clearly defined while others blend softly into the background.
The Finishing Touches
As the painting dried, some areas that were once dark became much paler. This is typical with watercolor, especially with certain pigments. To bring back depth and interest, I went in with Rose of Ultramarine to deepen shadows and add definition to specific areas.
For additional interest, I added leaves folding over parts of flowers. These overlapping elements create more dynamic compositions than simply painting each flower in its entirety. The combination of fully revealed and partially obscured elements makes the arrangement feel more natural and complex.
Embracing Your Artistic Voice
Remember, the beauty of art is that it creates a dialogue between creator and viewer. Not every flower needs to be perfectly identifiable or botanically accurate. As long as you capture the essence—ruffly petals, organic shapes, flowing lines—viewers' minds will fill in the gaps.
This style allows for interpretation and imagination, both yours and your audience's. Embrace the imperfections, the unexpected elements, and the unique qualities that emerge during the creative process—they're what make your art distinctly yours.
Final Thoughts
Creating this "Flower Fever Dream" portrait was a joy precisely because I allowed myself the freedom to follow where the painting led me. From working with challenging paper to embracing happy accidents and letting intuition guide my flower choices, every step taught me something about the creative process.
If you're feeling inspired to create your own dreamy watercolor portrait, remember: start with a simple concept, embrace the unexpected, pay attention to values, and don't be afraid to let your materials guide you. That's where the magic happens!