Its time to learn how to paint cosmos flowers one stroke at a time. This step by step painting lesson is beginner friendly.

Cosmos are a great annual flower for the cutting garden. But you can easily paint Cosmos to create DIY signs, canvas paintings and hand made gifts.

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Please note: The first video in this post is the fast paced overview. A real time video for you to paint along with will be posted at the end of this article.

Paint Cosmos Foliage

We will start painting our cosmos with the foliage.

Double load the #12 flat brush with Thicket and Citrus Green

Using the chisel edge of the brush lightly drag thin lines for the stems. If you prefer you may use a liner brush for the stems.

New here and need to know the Basics like double loading? Tap here.

Cosmos leaves are feathery and light. Small lines drawn with the chisel edge of your brush with smaller lines radiating out from those mimic the cosmos leaves.

Don’t worry about perfection on the leaves, they are not the focal point.

Paint Cosmos Flowers

Next load the #10 filbert brush with Magenta and a touch of Wicker White.

To load the filbert you first drag the brush through the puddle of Magenta then flip it over and drag it through the Wicker White. (if you are confused watch the video and I show you how)

Stroke on the first petals with the Magenta side down on the surface. Press, drag, lift to a point at the center of the flower.

Reload the brush as you create petals around the flower. A cosmos flower typically has 8 petals.

You may note that one petal is a little wonky. Roll with it…this is what create diversity in your paintings. Do not try to be perfect.

Trying to be perfect will suck the joy out of painting!

Paint lighter colored Cosmos

Reload the filbert paintbrush the same way you did the first time.

For the lighter colored Cosmos do the same strokes but with the Wicker White side of the brush down as you Press, drag lift.

Merely flipping the brush over will change the color dominance.

See the difference in colors? All because of how you load the filbert brush and which side is down on the surface.

Paint inner Flower details

To create some inner shading load the #12 flat brush with June Berry for the darker flower and Magenta for the lighter cosmos. Make sure you have a good chisel edge on your brush.

With the corner of the brush flick small lines radiating out from the center of the flower.

Paint Cosmos Centers

Using a small scruffy brush that comes in the multi pack tap into the Golden Rod and a bit of white on one edge.

If you don’t have the scruffy brush then tamp in the color with the corner of the #12 flat brush. Just load the Goldenrod only onto the corner and tap in a circle.

Once that has dried a bit load a liner brush with white and tap in the highlight.

Add a few dots of Thicket along the bottom edge of the yellow center for a shadow.

And there you have how to paint Cosmos flower in acrylics.

Want to learn more about painting Cosmos?

The step by step workbook is available and shows you even more on painting these lovely, delicate flowers, just press here for more info!

https://youtu.be/Yl6XfzGZbWQ

Materials

Please enjoy and share!