135 Magnolia Blossoms in Watercolor

“Magnolia Blossoms in Watercolor Online Workshop”

with Artist Sophia Rodionov ( CanotStopPainting)

Live Workshop on March 01, 2026

Step-by-Step Watercolor Painting Session

🌿 About the Workshop

🗓 Sunday, March 1
🕖 19:00 Jerusalem Time
⏳ 3,5 Hours (with short break)

Spring begins with magnolia.

Those first velvety petals, soft yet sculptural.
Branches still almost bare — and suddenly, light sits on them.

In this 3-hour live workshop, we will explore the magnolia blossom not only as a flower — but as a structure, a space, a rhythm of petals opening into light.

This session is both technical and poetic.
We will study. We will loosen up. We will build depth.
And we will let watercolor breathe.

In this live step-by-step watercolor workshop, we will paint a blooming magnolia together. I will guide you through every stage of the painting process, including:

✅ Color mixing – achieving soft, natural tones

✅ Water balance – controlling water on the surface and brush

✅ Brushwork – choosing the right brush for different effects

✅ Layering & application techniques – creating depth and delicate petals.

🌸 Workshop Structure

Part 1 — Sketching & Composition Foundations

We begin with graphite and observation.

• Understanding magnolia flower structure
• Breaking down petals into planes and volumes
• Studying how the blossom connects to the branch
• Exploring multiple composition options
• Finding balance, rhythm, and breathing space

This foundation will make everything that follows much easier and more confident.

Painting One — Loose Magnolia Study

Approx. 11x14”

Magnolia blossoms on white background — sketchy, expressive, non finito.

This is our warm-up painting.
We focus on:

• Understanding form in watercolor
• Preserving light
• Letting edges dissolve
• Keeping the painting alive and fresh
• Suggesting rather than over-finishing

This piece helps you relax into the subject and truly understand the flower’s structure in watercolor.

Painting Two — Magnolia Branch in Bloom

Approx. 12x16”

Now we go deeper.

A blooming magnolia branch with background — combining:

• Wet-into-wet technique for softness and atmosphere
• Layering in specific areas to create depth
• Value contrasts to show light
• Building volume through transparent layers
• Creating spatial relationships between petals and background

We will focus on how to make the flowers feel luminous — as if spring light passes through them.

🎨 Technical Details

• Medium: Watercolor (mixed media accents optional if you like)
• Paper sizes: approx. 11x14” and 12x16”
• Duration: 3,5 hours total
• Live on Zoom

🌿 Materials List

🎨 Paints
Using my usual palette – list will be provided below
All the colors that I use could be replaced with others.
I would talk about and explain my general approach to colors choice and explain why it is not so important to have exactly the same colors.
However for your convenience here are colors that I use almost in all my paintings:
Ultramarine
Sepia
Quinacridone Sienna (Daniel Smith)
Nickel Azo Yellow
Pink Quinacridone or Quinacridone Coral
Opera Pink
Olive green
Dark Olive Green or any Dark Green
Light Blue ( with white pigment), I use one by Old Holland - Scheveningen Blue Light
Additionally I will use in this specific workshop: Phtalo Turquoise or Cobalt Turquoise dark, Lavender

Brushes:
A Hake brush with a wide soft hair for wetting the paper.
Also your usual work kit: it is important that you have brushes that are convenient for you to work with in several sizes - both for large washes and for details
It is advisable to have a liner brush with a small diameter and a long hair.
It can be a classic liner or you could use Chinese calligraphy brushes of different sizes.
Picture of my regular brushes is attached

📜 Paper & Tools
100% cotton, cold-press watercolor paper – about 11x14'' or 9x12'' paper for study and 12x16” (31x41 cm) for larger work
drawing paper for sketches
Bowl of water
Spray bottle with clean water
Paper towels
Sea sponge
Soft pencil (2B-3B)
Eraser

Why Join Live?

While recording is included, live participation is strongly recommended.

During the session you can:

• Ask questions in real time
• Receive clarifications immediately
• Adjust your process while we paint
• Feel the shared creative energy

There will be dedicated Q&A time.

You are also welcome to share your results in our community chat if you’d like feedback. I’ll be happy to guide you further there.

⸻

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is for:

• Artists who want to deepen their understanding of flower structure
• Watercolor painters who struggle with petals looking flat
• Those who want to learn how to combine looseness with depth
• Artists who want to practice wet-into-wet without losing control
• Anyone who loves spring blossoms and luminous light

Beginner in watercolor are welcome — I explain every step carefully.
Intermediate and advanced artists will benefit from the structural and compositional approach.

ENJOY PAINTING FLOWERS WITH AN ARTIST!

I'M IN!

Flow Room Members

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