Best way to draw watercolour florals?

[GraficoDesign]

Hi there,

I was just wondering what the best way to draw some watercolour florals would be? I've got an example image below for reference. How would you go about recreating something like this/what kind of brushes would you use?

Sorry, this is probably fairly basic, it's just I'm still learning!

Thanks in advance.

Jessica

[jmwellborn]

@GraficoDesign  your example appears to be made of 6 identical leaf patterns, placed around an elipse.  If so, they would be “Image Brushes,” rather than the regular raster brushes.  Unless you can find such an image brush somewhere, you would need to create your own.  Presuming you are using Photo, you would create a single watercolor image of one bunch of leaves on a transparent background, using any of the watercolor brushes you have in your Brushes panel,  then export your drawing as a PNG without background.  Then go to the Brushes panel, click on the hamburger icon and choose New Image Brush, and you will be directed to select an image.  (Although it would probably be a good idea to first select “New Category” and name that, so your new brush won’t vanish somewhere in the Brushes Categories.).  Choose the exported PNG and your new brush will pop up in your new category.   You can then edit it for the parameters you like.

I am sure that professionals with tons of experience will be able to offer you much better solutions than mine, but since it is a weekend I thought I would take a stab at it.  I have made umpteen flower brushes from peonies, daffodils, iris, magnolia blossoms, etc. from my garden for the fun of it.   Now if only I could draw!!!  Hope this helps a bit.

[GraficoDesign]

23 hours ago, jmwellborn said:

@GraficoDesign  your example appears to be made of 6 identical leaf patterns, placed around an elipse.  If so, they would be “Image Brushes,” rather than the regular raster brushes.  Unless you can find such an image brush somewhere, you would need to create your own.  Presuming you are using Photo, you would create a single watercolor image of one bunch of leaves on a transparent background, using any of the watercolor brushes you have in your Brushes panel,  then export your drawing as a PNG without background.  Then go to the Brushes panel, click on the hamburger icon and choose New Image Brush, and you will be directed to select an image.  (Although it would probably be a good idea to first select “New Category” and name that, so your new brush won’t vanish somewhere in the Brushes Categories.).  Choose the exported PNG and your new brush will pop up in your new category.   You can then edit it for the parameters you like.

I am sure that professionals with tons of experience will be able to offer you much better solutions than mine, but since it is a weekend I thought I would take a stab at it.  I have made umpteen flower brushes from peonies, daffodils, iris, magnolia blossoms, etc. from my garden for the fun of it.   Now if only I could draw!!!  Hope this helps a bit.

That's really helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to explain it to me! I will have a play around now and give it a go. Much appreciated

[jmwellborn]

@GraficoDesign  You are welcome!  I hope you will have as much fun making image brushes as I have! 😷