This process may also be used for apple blossoms or other cluster flowers.

Step 1

Wet you paper with big (2 inch) brush; while wet mix up your colors of hydrangeas. Usually blues, lavenders, pinks , reds, purples. Place colors around, varying value and colors, where you want your flowers. Then put in some greens, with varying colors of yellows, blues, oranges etc., where you want some leaves. Remember to leave some light areas where the sun will shine on the flowers. Be sure you have some darker areas too. Maybe start darker at one side of you paper and go lighter to the other side.

Let it dry slightly until the shine is off. Now while it’s still damp, sprinkle water on the painting by dipping you fingers into water and shaking it across the paper. You can also dip you brush into flower colors and sprinkle on also. This will cause blooms which will be worked up into flowerette shapes later. Let the paper dry thoroughly. 

Step 2.

You will need 2 brushes. I usually use a size 12 and 14 round. Have paper towels ready for blotting. 

Next I study the color areas and decide where I want my center of interest. ( Brightest, most detailed, most contrast and etc.) Then Mix up a little flower color with one brush and clear water on the other brush. Paint two or three petal forms and quickly wash away the outside edge with the clear water brush, and just leave a shadow of the flower. Be sure to wash away any hard edge on the outside of your line, then blot just where you washed away leaving a shadow edge of the petals. Now go to anther part of your painting and do this again. Always find a dry area to make new petals. Where the sun is striking the flowers they will be lighter, just a hint of color. If you want to go darker you can always add more later. When petals are dry, come in with another petal shape, overlapping part of first petal shape, and each time wash away outside edge and blot. Varying colors as you go. Add more blue or red, even orange in some areas. Continue to do this until you form the flower shape you want. Move all over you painting. Now we have all these negative shapes, we have to put in some darker, positive flower too, otherwise it gets boring. In the dark areas of your under painting, you can use a template of clear plastic ( a bottom of bacon has good plastic, and it’s free) Cut out Petal shapes with exacto or small scissors, and lay it on the dark painted area and wash shapes out with a damp sponge( not wet) Go back and forth like this until you feel you have what you want. Don’t forget to overlap your flowers and leaves. Now you can paint the leaves under and between flowers, either negatively (Paint around leaf shape, darker to pop out a light leaf) or darker to make a positive leaf shape. But not too dark so later you can come back in and paint the veins negatively. (Paint the inside of leaf leaving the veining lighter. Vary the colors of the leaves also, add violets to shadow side and yellow and oranges to sun struck side of leaf. Remember the under side of leaves will be different color than the tops where they turn. Pick some leaves and see how they bend and curve. You can draw them in on you green area if it helps. 

Step 3.

Now that you have your flower shapes, you’ll need to shade the shadow side with darker colors that are in that flower, leaving some petals to catch the sun and others in shade. This will give you form the hydrangeas and make them round. Remember you will have shadows on the leaves also. After it is all dry come in to some areas and paint darker shapes with branches to connect the flowers to a bush. This is fun to do and people ask "How do you do that". The two brush technique is very handy to know and helps in many other ways. Like making snow piled on fence posts, do the same thing and wash away outside edge and viola you have snow on the post. Fun stuff.

Finally, when the shadows and shaping of flowers and leaves are done, take a smaller brush, about and eight to 10 round, and make centers to the floweret's. I usually mix up the paint on the palette and put two or three dots in centers of each flower, and if you smudge some, it gives a depth appearance to some. You don't have to be exact. I usually paint hydrangeas while demonstrating because you don't have to concentrate and you can answer questions without being afraid of messing up. People are fascinated with the two brush technique. Have fun.

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