How to Paint Carnations with a Wedge Brush
Carnations may look intricate with their frilly, ruffled petals, but with a wedge brush, you can capture their beauty in just a few strokes. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to paint carnations using simple techniques that create natural gradients, layered petals, and vibrant blooms.
Step 1 – Load and Test Your Brush
For this project, we’ll be painting red and purple carnations. Start by diluting your main colour and fully loading your brush. Then dip just the tip of the brush into a darker shade of the same colour. This creates a natural gradient effect in a single stroke.
Before you dive in, test it on scrap paper. Press down to make a wide base, then lift to form the frilly petal edge. You’ll notice the lighter colour blending seamlessly while the darker shade stays on the tip. If the gradient fades, simply reload your brush..
Step 2 – Paint the Carnation
Begin in the center with a cluster of short, irregular strokes in a circle—these will form the innermost petals. Don’t stress about making them perfect! A little variation makes them look more natural.
Next, layer slightly longer strokes around the first circle, overlapping as you go. Rotate your paper or your brush so the petals radiate outward evenly. For the outer layer, press down more firmly, drag outward, and give your wrist a tiny twist at the end of each stroke. That flick creates the ruffled edges carnations are known for.
Step 3 – Add Depth and Dimension
Carnations come to life through layering. If your bloom feels flat, reload your brush with a darker tone and tuck extra strokes between the petals near the center. This instantly adds depth and fullness.
Remember, carnations aren’t perfectly symmetrical—so don’t worry if some petals overlap or extend further than others. The charm lies in their natural irregularity.
Step 4 – Paint the Stem and Leaves
Load your wedge brush with two shades of green: light on one corner and dark on the other. For the stem, press and drag straight down. For leaves, start at the stem, press, then pull outward in a gentle curve, lifting the brush at the end to form a pointed tip. Angle a few leaves in different directions to frame your flower beautifully.
Step 5 – Final Touches
Switch to a small round brush for finishing details. Add subtle shadows at the petal bases, highlights on the tips, or even a soft glaze of darker colour beneath certain petals to give more dimension. Step back and admire the gradient—from lighter tips to darker centers—and the ruffled textures that make carnations so special.
My Final Painting
Featured Product: BLOOM by Craftamo 🌸
All of these techniques shine when paired with BLOOM by Craftamo, a set designed specifically for creating petals, leaves, and flowing gradients. The wedge brushes in this collection stand apart for their precision and versatility.
Crafted with a unique angular silhouette, the wedge replicates the structure of a fountain pen, combining a broad paint reservoir with a fine, controlled tip. This allows artists to glide seamlessly from thick to thin strokes, producing dynamic shapes with an effortless, organic flow. Perfect for floral work, it’s the brush every bloom deserves.
👉 [Discover BLOOM by Craftamo here]
Try It Yourself 🌺
And there you have it, a carnation in just a few strokes using a wedge brush! Experiment with other colours too: red, pink, yellow, or even white with a touch of green at the tips. Each variation brings a fresh look.
Want to see the process in action? 🎥 We’ve put together a step-by-step video tutorial on YouTube where you can watch the brush movements and layering techniques up close.
Watch the video here.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, don’t forget to share your version, tag @craftamo in your creations, and let us know which flower you’d like to learn next. I’d love to see your blooms!