Paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

All Activities

Paint bright flower scenes using oil pastels and watercolor washes, exploring resist techniques, blending colors, layering petals, and practicing brush control and color mixing.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

What you need

Oil pastels, watercolor paint set, watercolor paper, pencil, eraser, paintbrushes, cup of water, paper towel, palette or mixing tray, masking tape (optional)

Step 1

Tape the edges of your watercolor paper to the table so the paper stays flat while you paint.

Step 2

Lightly sketch a few big flowers and leaves with your pencil leaving space between each flower.

Step 3

Trace bold outlines of each flower and stem using oil pastels so the shapes are strong.

Step 4

Fill in each petal and leaf with oil pastel color using firmer pressure to create bright waxy areas.

Step 5

Gently blend two pastel colors on a petal with your finger or a scrap piece of paper to make a smooth color change.

Step 6

Mix a watery watercolor color on your palette by adding a little water to two paints to practice making new shades.

Step 7

Paint a light watercolor wash around the flowers with broad strokes so the oil pastel areas resist the paint.

Step 8

Let the watercolor wash dry completely before you add more layers or details.

Step 9

Add extra oil pastel lines and highlights on petals and centers to make the flowers pop and add texture.

Step 10

Share your finished flower scene on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use instead of watercolor paper, tape, or oil pastels if we don't have them?

If you don't have watercolor paper, use heavyweight mixed-media or thick Bristol, replace tape with masking or painter's tape, and if oil pastels are unavailable try wax crayons but expect a weaker wax resist when you 'Paint a light watercolor wash around the flowers'.

My watercolor wash is bleeding or not resisting the waxy lines—what should I do?

Press firmer when you 'Fill in each petal and leaf with oil pastel' to build thicker waxy areas, mix less water when you 'Mix a watery watercolor color on your palette', and always 'Let the watercolor wash dry completely' before adding more layers or details.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For preschoolers, pre-sketch big simple flowers on taped watercolor paper and let them color and finger-blend the oil pastels, while older kids can draw detailed blooms, practice 'Gently blend two pastel colors', layer additional watercolor washes, and 'Add extra oil pastel lines and highlights' for texture.

How can we extend or personalize the finished flower scene?

After the wash dries, personalize by adding collage centers from tissue paper or seed beads, use metallic oil pastels to 'Add extra oil pastel lines and highlights', or cut the piece into cards and 'Share your finished flower scene on DIY.org'.

Watch videos on how to paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

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Oil Pastel Spring Scenery Painting for beginners | Oil Pastel Drawing Cherry Blossom

4 Videos

Facts about mixed-media painting for kids

🎨 Oil pastels were developed in the 1920s (Sennelier made them for artists like Picasso) and give bright, buttery strokes that don't need solvents.

💧 Watercolor paint uses a water-soluble binder (like gum arabic), so thin washes can be layered, lifted, and reactivated with water.

🕯️ Wax and oil from oil pastels repel water, so pastel lines stay bright when you apply a watercolor wash—a simple resist trick.

🌈 Mixing two primary colors (red + yellow, red + blue, blue + yellow) creates the main secondary colors—great for blending petals.

🐝 Some flowers have ultraviolet patterns visible to pollinators; using high-contrast markings can make painted flowers feel more 'alive.'

How do you paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors?

Start by sketching simple flower shapes in pencil on watercolor paper. Use oil pastels to draw outlines, veins, and petal shading—the wax repels water so these lines resist washes. Mix diluted watercolor paints and apply light washes over the pastel, letting colors pool and blend. Layer more pastel on dry paper for highlights or texture, and practice varying brush pressure and color mixes. Finish when washes dry; encourage experimentation and cleanup.

What materials do I need to paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors?

You’ll need good-quality heavyweight watercolor paper (140 lb/300 gsm), a set of oil pastels, watercolor paints (tubes or pans), several brushes (round sizes 2–8), a water jar, paper towels, a pencil and eraser, a palette for mixing, and a waterproof surface or smock. Optional extras: masking tape, white gel pen for highlights, salt for texture, and a spray bottle. Choose non-toxic supplies for children’s safety.

What ages is this oil pastel and watercolor flower activity suitable for?

This mixed-media flower activity suits children roughly ages 5–12. Younger kids (5–7) enjoy simple shapes, bold pastel marks, and guided washes; expect more adult help with layering and brush control. Ages 8–12 can experiment with color mixing, resist techniques, and finer petal details independently. Adjust expectations, supervision, and materials—use thicker paper and washable supplies for younger artists and introduce compositional tips and color theory to older children.

What are the benefits of painting flowers with resist techniques using oil pastels and watercolors?

Benefits include improved fine motor skills, hand–eye coordination, and brush control, plus an early grasp of color mixing and layering. The resist technique teaches cause-and-effect and boosts creativity as children experiment with blending and textures. This activity also supports emotional expression and concentration, offers sensory play with wax and wet paints, and builds confidence when kids complete vivid flower scenes they can display or gift.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

Paint bright flower scenes using oil pastels and watercolor washes, exploring resist techniques, blending colors, layering petals, and practicing brush control and color mixing.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

What you need

Oil pastels, watercolor paint set, watercolor paper, pencil, eraser, paintbrushes, cup of water, paper towel, palette or mixing tray, masking tape (optional)

Step 1

Tape the edges of your watercolor paper to the table so the paper stays flat while you paint.

Step 2

Lightly sketch a few big flowers and leaves with your pencil leaving space between each flower.

Step 3

Trace bold outlines of each flower and stem using oil pastels so the shapes are strong.

Step 4

Fill in each petal and leaf with oil pastel color using firmer pressure to create bright waxy areas.

Step 5

Gently blend two pastel colors on a petal with your finger or a scrap piece of paper to make a smooth color change.

Step 6

Mix a watery watercolor color on your palette by adding a little water to two paints to practice making new shades.

Step 7

Paint a light watercolor wash around the flowers with broad strokes so the oil pastel areas resist the paint.

Step 8

Let the watercolor wash dry completely before you add more layers or details.

Step 9

Add extra oil pastel lines and highlights on petals and centers to make the flowers pop and add texture.

Step 10

Share your finished flower scene on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use instead of watercolor paper, tape, or oil pastels if we don't have them?

My watercolor wash is bleeding or not resisting the waxy lines—what should I do?

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

How can we extend or personalize the finished flower scene?

Watch videos on how to paint flowers with oil pastels and watercolors

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Oil Pastel Spring Scenery Painting for beginners | Oil Pastel Drawing Cherry Blossom

4 Videos

Facts about mixed-media painting for kids

🎨 Oil pastels were developed in the 1920s (Sennelier made them for artists like Picasso) and give bright, buttery strokes that don't need solvents.

💧 Watercolor paint uses a water-soluble binder (like gum arabic), so thin washes can be layered, lifted, and reactivated with water.

🕯️ Wax and oil from oil pastels repel water, so pastel lines stay bright when you apply a watercolor wash—a simple resist trick.

🌈 Mixing two primary colors (red + yellow, red + blue, blue + yellow) creates the main secondary colors—great for blending petals.

🐝 Some flowers have ultraviolet patterns visible to pollinators; using high-contrast markings can make painted flowers feel more 'alive.'