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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    Gorgeous Gold and Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    September 3, 2020

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Birthday Cards, Floral Illustration Tutorials, Greeting Card Tutorials, Mother’s Day Cards, Thank You Cards, Tutorials, Watercolor, Watercolor Tutorials

    Today’s tutorial features watercolor flowers with gold accents that make for a true visual treat! This is a great project to save for when you want to take a few minutes to relax and make something pretty.

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    Gorgeous Gold and Watercolor Flowers Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    In today’s tutorial, we’ll work some magic to make watercolor flowers that shimmer and dance in the light! Put on a good podcast or some music, get out your watercolors, and get ready to relax.

    1. Make a Pencil Draft

    First, use a compass or trace around a circular object with a pencil. It’s best to do this on watercolor paper or a blank watercolor card, which is what I’m using for this tutorial.

    Pencil Draft of Floral Illustration
    Try to draw a faint circle here because you’ll eventually erase this line.

    Next, use a pencil to draw some roses and stems. If you don’t know how to draw roses, that’s okay! Just try to mimic the illustrations in the photos below:

    Pencil Draft of Floral Illustration
    I’d start from the bottom of the circle and work your way up.
    Pencil Draft of Floral Illustration
    Try to draw plenty of leaves and stems, which will help that circular shape stand out from a distance.

    2. Add Watercolor

    Now, get out a watercolor palette (I’m using a Winsor & Newton set of 12), and moisten a red hue, a deep blue hue, and two green hues. Use the red hue to fill in some of your flowers with a small-ish paintbrush.

    Adding Watercolor to the Flowers Illustratio
    I used a size 2 paintbrush and Rose Madder watercolor to fill in these two flowers.

    Next, use a dark blue hue (like Prussian Blue) to fill in the rest of the flowers.

    Adding Watercolor to the Flowers Illustration

    Once the paint has dried, go over some areas of the flowers again with more of the same color of paint. This will add some darker, dramatic areas to the flowers.

    Adding Watercolor to the Flowers Illustration

    Now, use two different tones of green (a light tone and a dark tone) to fill in the leaves and stems.

    Adding Watercolor to the Flowers Illustration
    I used Viridian Hue and Sap Green for this step.

    3. Go for the Gold

    Once your watercolor paint has completely dried, moisten a pan of gold watercolor (I like Arabic Gold), and apply it to a Nikko G nib as shown in the Creating Gold Calligraphy: How to Use the Finetec Palette tutorial. Then, trace over your pencil lines with that fabulous gold!

    Adding Gold to the Floral Illustration
    I like to use a Nikko G nib for this step because it is capable of making consistent, thin lines.

    Keep tracing over the pencil lines with your gold until you’ve covered everything. (Notice that I erased my circular pencil guideline in the middle of this step. You can do this at any time as long as your watercolor is dry!)

    Adding Gold to the Floral Illustration

    Next, use a small (size 0-ish) paintbrush to apply gold dots to the flowers and leaves. The pattern you use is up to you! We’re just trying to add some personality with this step.

    Adding Gold to the Floral Illustration

    Continue to “dot” the florals and leaves until you’re satisfied with the result, then you’re finished!

    Adding Gold to the Floral Illustration

    I used this motif to create a multipurpose watercolor flowers greeting card, but you can use the design for anything! It would be right at home in a sketchbook or a bullet journal, for example. Feel free to play with the colors and the pattern; this is a general concept that you can’t go wrong with!

    Gorgeous Gold and Watercolor Flowers Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Thanks very much for reading this short tutorial! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments. I’m wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend, one that hopefully includes a fun project or two!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

     

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Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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36 responses

  1. Veronica H. Avatar
    Veronica H.
    September 24, 2021

    Scrolling through your many posts. I love this look <3

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      September 28, 2021

      Thank you! The gold really adds some bling!

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TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured in @newyorkermag’s “A Holiday Gift Guide: Treasures That Are Old, or Old at Heart”. 🎁 I agree that it makes for a *fabulous* gift ... and it is the gift that keeps on giving, since your recipient will develop the skills to create all sorts of beautiful and satisfying projects. We’re talking gorgeous envelopes, frameable quotes that make a home feel cozy, place cards, sketchbook pages, family trees ... there are a lot of possibilities (and tutorials for those possibilities can be found on the TPK Blog)!

To get a kit, visit the link in my bio and navigate to the “SHOP” tab. If you buy a kit as a gift, let me know right after placing your order (lindsey@thepostmansknock.com). Be sure to tell me your recipient’s name, and I’ll be glad to include instructions for them over how to enroll in the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, which comes with the $125 kit option. ✍️ Happy holidays! 

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphytools #calligraphyset #calligraphykit #giftguide #holidaygiftguide #newyorkermag #smallbusinesslove #shopsmall #makersgonnamake #creativegifts #handmadegifts #artgifts #artsupplies #stationerylove #snailmailrevival #envelopecalligraphy #learncalligraphy #artistsontiktok #creativeprocess #holidayseason #giftideas2024
✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ – This inky poppy ✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ - This inky poppy motif is one of my all-time favorites for filling blank space with drama and elegance. To make it, you use dark ink smudges, loose leaves, and airy petals to build a border that looks intricate but comes together quickly. My go-tos for this style are sumi ink and a touch of gold watercolor for warmth. 

Want to try it yourself? Visit the TPK website (link in bio) and search for “Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art Tutorial.” Happy creating! 🌸🖋️

#thepostmansknock #tpk #mailart #mailartideas #envelopeart #snailmailrevival #snailmailing #snailmailart #envelopecalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #sumiink #goldwatercolor #penandink #creativeprocess #creativemail #illustrationart #papercraft #stationerylove #artistsoninstagram #artreels #calligraphyreels #mailartreels
✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catal ✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catalog: The Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Drill Worksheet 

This ballerina is unique among TPK calligraphy drills in that it’s really not that complicated. After a few simple loops, a flourished tutu, and long strokes to make the legs, you have, well, a ballerina! 🩰 The most difficult part is getting the outline right; but even that isn’t too bad because you’ve got a traceable outline included in your worksheet set.

The beauty of the flourished ballerina? She makes *anything* look elegant: cards, envelopes, gift tags, whatever. My recommendation is to feature her on your next envelope. She’ll add a “wow” factor and allow you to left-justify the address, which is always a relief (no need to bother with centering)!

To find her, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to the Blog!

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishedart #mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #envelopecalligraphy #handlettering #creativeprocess #artistsoninstagram #balletart #ballerinadrawing #ballerinaart #inkdrawing #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #letterwritersalliance #penandink #calligraphyinspiration #learncalligraphy #artistlife #creativeplay
✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Chr ✨I’ve been making these little calligraphy Christmas trees for years. They’re a go-to whenever I need a quick gift tag, envelope flourish, or something festive that doesn’t require a whole afternoon.

They look fancy, but they’re really just simple strokes stacked in different patterns. Truly: once you get the rhythm down, you can make a tree in under 30 seconds. 🎄 

If you want to try them (there are six styles!), the tutorial is on the TPK Blog, and it’s called
“6 Simple Ways to Make a Calligraphy Christmas Tree.” Feel free to google it, or visit: thepostmansknock.com/6-simple-ways-to-make-a-calligraphy-christmas-tree/

It’s very beginner-friendly, video-based, and a great way to get some creativity in during a busy season. I hope you love it as much as I do. 💛

#calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #holidaycalligraphy #calligraphyart #creativelifehappylife #christmascrafts #holidaycrafts #giftwrappingideas #diychristmas #christmascards #calligraphytutorial #finetec #metallicwatercolor #papercrafts #creativepractice #thepostmansknock #holidayinspiration #blackandgold #christmasideas #holidayideas
🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favor 🎁 These printable gift tags are one of my favorite free printables on the TPK site. Just download, print, cut them out, and — if you want to — reinforce them with a bit of cardstock.

Inside the PDF you’ll find four designs: Festive Frida, Flourished Tree, Pine Boughs, and Merry & Bright. They’re all hand-drawn, and they make even the simplest wrapping look bespoke and artistic. 🎨 

Pro tip: If you’ve got a bit of extra time, add a pop of watercolor or some gold dots; and consider mounting the tag on a contrasting piece of cardstock for extra oomph.

They’re free to download at: thepostmansknock.com/free-super-cool-hand-drawn-printable-gift-tags/ (or visit the link in my stories today). Happy holidays!

#handdrawn #gifttags #printablegifttags #freeprintables #holidayprintables #christmascrafts #holidaygifts #papercrafts #snailmailinspo #mailart #creativegiftwrapping #diyholiday #diygifttags #artistsoninstagram #illustrationartists #thepostmansknock #tpkcommunity #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #creativecommunity
There’s something extra fun about a card that do There’s something extra fun about a card that doesn’t just open … it comes to life. ✨ This little stand-up tree might look fancy, but it’s totally approachable — relaxing to make, satisfying to embellish, and (my favorite part) it folds up perfectly to pop in the mail. 💌🎄

If you’re looking for a holiday project that feels creative and doable, this is *such* a good one. The printable template does half the work for you, and you can customize the rest with flourishes, white ink, ornaments, or whatever feels festive to you.

The full step-by-step tutorial is waiting for you on the TPK website; just head to the link in my bio and tap “Blog.” I think you’ll have as much fun making this as I did. ❤️

#calligraphy #calligraphytutorial #holidaycalligraphy #flourishedcalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphyart #letteringcommunity #letteringart #papercraft #papercrafting #diycards #handmadecards #holidaycards #christmascards #christmascrafts #snailmail #snailmailrevolution #snailmaillove #creativecommunity #stationerylove #makersgonnamake #thepostmansknock
I love it when I can make simple pointed pen pract I love it when I can make simple pointed pen practice on cardstock ... and it magically turns into a festive card! Find instructions + a printable template for making this “Loop-de-Loop” tree in the TPK 2025 Holiday Calligraphy Worksheet set. 🎄 (Link in bio, then navigate to the Blog!)

#pointedpen #calligraphy #calligraphypractice #pointedpenpractice #holiday #christmastree #treedrawing #doodles #goldwatercolor
Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward t Every November since 2016, I’ve looked forward to sitting down with a cup of something warm ☕️ and sketching out ideas for the TPK holiday worksheet. This year was no exception, and I think you’ll be pleased with the motifs! They’re designed to bring calm, beauty, and (sneaky) pointed pen practice to your holiday season. 🎄Visit the TPK Blog (link in bio, then navigate to Blog) for details!
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