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Master class
«Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova»

Discover how to paint airy, vibrant wildflower bouquets in watercolor with Elena Bazanova. Learn to work with light, shadow, and fine details to create natural, delicate compositions that truly come alive on paper
Students of the author: 357
Course type: Master class
Average rating: 5 from 5

About

Join renowned artist Elena Bazanova in this inspiring online masterclass dedicated to painting lush, delicate wildflower bouquets in watercolor. In this course, you’ll explore the unique charm of wildflowers—daisies, bellflowers, forget-me-nots, dandelions, and more—arranged into airy, lively compositions that capture the essence of nature.

Throughout the masterclass, Elena shares her personal approach and years of expertise, guiding you step-by-step. You'll learn to:

  • Observe and analyze flowers from life and from reference photos, understanding their structure and subtle nuances.

  • Build dynamic, balanced compositions that combine light, shadow, and calligraphic lines to bring your bouquet to life.

  • Work with a refined color palette, mixing greens and purples without relying on ready-made paints, and using unique blends to capture realistic tones.

  • Handle delicate watercolor techniques, from smooth washes to expressive brush movements that mimic the natural grace of grasses and blossoms.

  • Paint transparent glass vases, mastering reflections and highlights that give depth and realism to your work.

Elena also demonstrates how to sketch botanically accurate studies, how to experiment with different brushes to achieve organic, flowing strokes, and how to introduce small storytelling elements—like dragonflies or subtle insects—that make each bouquet feel alive.

This course isn't about rigid copying. Instead, Elena encourages creative improvisation, teaching you how to stay attentive to natural forms while freely interpreting them. You'll see how to simplify some areas into abstract color masses, highlight key flowers to lead the viewer's eye, and use contrast effectively.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have not only a complete painting of a stunning wildflower bouquet but also a deeper artistic understanding—enabling you to confidently create your own floral compositions in the future.

This masterclass features an automatically generated English dubbing. While we’ve used advanced AI tools to provide a clear translation, please be aware that minor inaccuracies or phrasing errors may occur. Thank you for understanding!

Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova Fragments of an online drawing lesson «Painting Wildflower Bouquets in Watercolor with Elena Bazanova» — Painting from Elena Bazanova

What will we study

  • How to observe, sketch, and paint different wildflowers and grasses

  • Techniques to create luminous light and convincing shadows without muddying colors

  • Ways to blend and transition greens, yellows, and lilacs for natural results

  • Building loose, airy bouquets that feel balanced yet spontaneous

  • Painting glass vases with realistic highlights, depth, and subtle reflections

Program

9 lectures
Available on all tariffs
Icon «1. Introduction & Inspiration: Painting Wildflower Bouquets» from the course 1 min

Elena Bazanova welcomes you to the masterclass and shares the inspiration behind this watercolor journey. Discover her artistic goals: teaching you to see, compose, and capture the unique charm and fragrance of wildflowers in a delicate bouquet

Available on all tariffs
Icon «2. Exploring References & Botanical Studies» from the course 23 min

Join Elena as she discusses working from photo references and nature, the importance of botanical sketches, and how studying individual flowers—like daisies, forget-me-nots, and bellflowers—builds a foundation for expressive bouquet painting

Available on all tariffs
Icon «3. Essential Exercises: Lines, Leaves & Greenery» from the course 29 min

Start practical exercises to loosen your hand and understand plant structure. Learn to sketch blades of grass, explore light and shadow on foliage, and experiment with color mixing to achieve lively, natural greens without premixed paints

Available on all tariffs
Icon «4. Composing the Bouquet & Initial Sketch» from the course 17 min

Elena guides you through composing your bouquet on paper. Understand proportions, how to balance the vase with the floral mass, and why white paper helps bring out cool tones and delicate flower details.

Available on all tariffs
Icon «5. Creating Atmosphere: Background Washes» from the course 10 min
Begin the painting process by preparing your paper and laying down gentle gray washes to establish depth and atmosphere. Learn techniques for keeping highlights clean and creating a soft, airy field around your bouquet
Available on all tariffs
Icon «6. Painting Delicate Greens & Daisies» from the course 29 min
Add the first strokes of foliage with thoughtful brushwork. See how subtle changes in color temperature bring realism, and follow Elena’s method to carefully outline daisies and build up the bouquet’s graceful structure
Available on all tariffs
Icon «7. Introducing Color Accents: Pinks & Lilacs» from the course 27 min
Layer vibrant pinks and gentle lilacs into your composition. Elena demonstrates how to balance these playful hues with cooler shadows, creating depth and harmony among the flowers
Available on all tariffs
Icon «8. Mastering the Glass Vase» from the course 29 min
Focus on rendering the transparent vase. Learn to suggest water, reflections, and subtle highlights, enhancing the illusion of delicate stems immersed in glass—all while maintaining watercolor’s fresh, spontaneous quality
Available on all tariffs
Icon «9. Final Details & Harmonizing the Bouquet» from the course 27 min
Bring your painting to life with final touches: adding intricate blades of grass, refining flower centers, and adjusting color spots for unity. Elena encourages improvisation so your bouquet feels vibrant, organic, and truly yours

Reviews

Who is it suitable for

  • Anyone who loves watercolor and wants to capture the beauty of nature on paper

  • Artists aiming to master delicate floral compositions and vibrant greenery

  • Beginners seeking clear guidance on mixing colors and building form

  • Intermediate painters wanting to explore more complex bouquets and glass effects

  • Creative souls looking to develop a poetic, calligraphic style in watercolor

Buy a course
Choose how long you want access to the course.
All options include full video lessons and materials.
$22.1 $44.3 -50%
$25.1 $50.2 -50%
$29.5 $59 -50%
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Necessary materials

For the main painting, we strongly recommend using bright white watercolor paper (bleached), free of the natural cotton yellowish tint. This ensures crisp whites for your daisies and clear rendering of cool hues in your bouquet. Different brands offer varying degrees of whiteness — always check before purchase.

Preferred type:

  • Cold pressed, medium texture (CP/NOT / Grain Fin)

  • 300 gsm, 100% cotton

  • Approx. size: 36 x 33 cm (half of a standard 56 x 76 cm watercolor sheet)

Recommended brands by the artist:

  • Saunders Waterford (St. Cuthberts Mill, UK)

  • Arches (France)

  • Cezanne (Hahnemühle, Germany)

  • PALAZZO ELITE ART (Lilia Holding, Russia)

Additionally:

  • For tonal sketches: any drawing or painting paper, A4 size.

  • For testing and mixing watercolor palette: quality suitable for watercolor, A4 or A3. Can be 50% cotton.

Elena Bazanova recommends the classic “White Nights” palette by Nevskaya Palitra. Here’s her suggested selection (15 main colors plus optional additions):

Core 15:

  1. Zinc White / Titanium White

  2. Lemon / Cadmium Lemon

  3. Cadmium Yellow Medium

  4. Yellow Iron Oxide / Light Ochre

  5. Golden Deep / Orange / Cadmium Orange

  6. Quinacridone Red

  7. Quinacridone Rose

  8. Quinacridone Violet

  9. Cobalt Blue

  10. Ultramarine

  11. Indanthrene Blue / Blue / Bright Blue

  12. Cobalt Turquoise

  13. Emerald Green

  14. Venice Purple

Optional additions:

  • Nickel Titanate Yellow

  • May Green

  • Yellowish Green

  • Cobalt Titanate Green

  • Lamp Black (for special nuances)

A versatile set is essential. Elena suggests at least six brushes of various sizes and types:

  • Round brushes #2: squirrel, kolinsky or Chinese “red wolf” calligraphy brush (holds water well, great for delicate lines and signing).

  • Flat brushes #4 & #8: squirrel, for washes and glazes.

  • Calligraphy brush #6 or #8: French travel type (in plastic case) or Chinese, or a mix of synthetic + natural (squirrel/kolinsky).

  • Wide mop brush #50 or #80: pony, goat, squirrel, or synthetic imitation for wetting the sheet and large washes.

  • “Eraser” brush: short, flat synthetic, for lifting and correcting details.

Recommended brands:

  • BelkaBrush (Russia), Kolibri (Germany), Da Vinci (Germany), Escoda (Spain), Roubloff (Russia), and various Chinese calligraphy brands.

  • White ceramic or plastic palette

  • Drawing board (glass, acrylic, or any waterproof smooth surface)

  • For stretching paper: paper masking tape (4 cm), PVA glue, clips or thumbtacks

  • Fine cotton gauze or thin cloth (approx. 38 x 34 cm, slightly larger than paper)

  • Natural or synthetic sea sponge / cosmetic sponge

  • Graphite pencils B, 2B

  • Soft and hard erasers

  • White paper towels / napkins

  • Ruler & scissors

  • Hair dryer

  • Two water containers (at least 1 L each)

  • Optional: lightbox for transferring sketches

Author

Author's avatar Elena Bazanova

Elena Bazanova
"Creativity is a state of mind, a person's ability to see beauty and create. Manifestations of creativity are very multifaceted. It is quite a broad topic for conversation. Love contributes to creativity, love in many different broad senses", Elena Bazanova, October 2020. Elena Bazanova has been working in one of the most difficult techniques - watercolour - for over 20 years. She gives master classes, writes very interesting extensive articles, but most importantly, she is fluent in the exquisite technique of watercolour. Her works are in galleries and private collections in Russia, Germany, USA, France, England, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Holland, Kazakhstan and China.