I was recently inspired by the blossoms of the gorgeous, vibrant waratahs, native to Australia. Enjoy this step-by-step process to create my impression of this amazingly colorful flower.

My palette:

• Opera Pink
• Quinacridone Magenta
• Cadmium Red Medium Hue
• Alizarin Crimson
• Carbazole Violet
• Pyrrol Orange
• Quinacridone Gold
• French Ultramarine

Roughly draw out the parameters of the flower in pencil on watercolor paper, then lay in the background and shadow colors for the first wash.

Start dropping in the local color, keeping it as loose as possible for as long as possible!

Let the medium work its magic – don’t try to over-control it. Let the paint mix and mingle with its friends.

Cut out some stencil shapes from template plastic or transparency film to create the lighter stamen areas.

Use a damp sea sponge or paper towel to lift and wipe through the stencil in the areas where you wish to bring back some light.

Remain open to whatever your painting needs and think about how you can progress the work to the next stage of resolution.