Paint the Large Red Poppy Leaves

Paint the Large Red Poppy Leaves, one stroke at a time. Easy lesson for painting the leaves for the Large Red Poppy Painting.

In how to Paint the Large Red Poppy leaves we will pick up where we left off in the last painting tutorial of How to Paint a Large red Poppy.

The large Red Poppy Painting tutorial was a smash hit but it got long winded and I needed to break it up. This post is on how to paint the leaves shown with the poppies. These are not true to life poppy leaves, if you observe those you will note they are more rounded in areas. I may do a more true to life tutorial in the future.

A complete pattern pack is available here: Paint a Large Red Poppy Pattern Pack

Here is your Pinnable photo to save for later

How to Paint Large Poppy leaves, easy painting lesson anyone can do. A full painting tutorial with video included for step by instructions. Come paint with me!

You first start by double loading your brush with a light green and a dark green, the video I show doing it but if you need a photo reference go to this post: Basic Painting Strokes

Beginning the Leaves

I make a V shape with my 3/4″ double loaded flat brush. (supply list below)

Start on the chisel edge of your brush and press and you stroke towards the out leaf edge. You can already see how the two colors are blending.

When you reach the outer edge of the leaf then slide back to the center letting the bristle spring back up. You are reducing the pressure on the brush as you slide back to the center.

Keep doing the same as you progressively get to the top of the leaf.

Stop and Reload at Needed

You may need to stop and reload with more paint.

Some edges are more rounded than others and that is fine, remember, the leaves are usually not the focal point of the painting, they are filling in or accenting the flowers.

Be sure to lift your brush as you slide back, can you see how the bristles are springing back up? (if not the video should help)

Embrace the messy stage

Here is where I had to stop to reload. Though it looks messy don’t fret, it will come together as we proceed.

I start where I left off when I went to reload my brush with paint and continue to the tip.

I did not photo my going down the other side but in the video I show two different ways this can be done and how pulling in the stem helps to tidy it all up.

You can see below how the leaves are not the focal point but play a supporting role.