Painting Crocosmia: My Journey Comparing Flat vs Round Brushes

Why I Chose Crocosmia for This Brush Experiment

Living here in the greater Puget Sound area, I'm constantly inspired by the crocosmia flowers that seem to thrive in every garden I pass. These gorgeous red beauties have become such a common sight in my neighborhood, and the hummingbirds absolutely adore them! When I was planning this brush comparison tutorial, crocosmia felt like the perfect subject – familiar, accessible, and bursting with those warm colors that make watercolor sing.

For this painting session, I kept my palette beautifully simple: cadmium red hue, cadmium yellow hue, and just a touch of sap green. Sometimes the most impactful studies come from restraint, and I wanted to focus entirely on how different brushes handle the same subject matter.

Starting with the Flat Brush: An Unexpected Journey

I decided to begin with my Artegria Intuition size six flat brush, which honestly felt like the more adventurous choice. Most of us reach for round brushes instinctively when painting flowers, but I was curious about what magic a flat brush might bring to these delicate forms.

The Green Foundation

The flat brush immediately surprised me with its versatility. That flat edge creates such clean, precise lines for stems – it's like having a built-in ruler! I started with the sap green, establishing those graceful stems that would support my entire composition. The way you can transition from a thin line to broader strokes just by adjusting pressure felt so natural and controlled.

Those little buds emerging from the stems? Pure joy to paint with the flat brush. Just gentle dabs, and suddenly you have these perfect organic shapes that feel authentically botanical.

Color Theory in Action

Here's where my teaching brain kicked in – I deliberately introduced yellow as a transition color between my green stems and red blooms. This isn't just about pretty gradations; it's smart color theory! Since red and green are complementary colors, they create muddy mixtures when they meet directly. But yellow? Yellow plays beautifully with both red and green, creating those natural, harmonious transitions you see in real flowers.

Watching that yellow blend and flow on the wet paper reminded me why I fell in love with watercolor in the first place. Those happy accidents and organic bleeds aren't mistakes – they're the medium showing off its unique personality.

Embracing the Flat Brush Flow

As I moved into the red petals, I found myself treating the flat brush almost like a round – using light pressure for delicate touches, then increasing pressure to splay those bristles for broader petal shapes. The transparency of watercolor meant those beautiful bleeds were happening naturally, and I just let them be. This isn't about botanical perfection; it's about capturing the essence and energy of these flowers.

Round Brush: The Familiar Friend

Switching to my size eight round brush for the second painting felt like coming home. There's a reason most of us gravitate toward round brushes for floral work – they're incredibly intuitive and responsive.

The Magic of Point and Press

That lovely pointed tip on a round brush is pure magic for flower painting. Light pressure gives you delicate lines and details, while pressing down creates those perfect petal shapes and buds. It's like the brush is reading your mind! Those cute little leaf shapes and organic forms just seemed to flow effortlessly.

A Revelation About Preference

I have to be honest – as I progressed through this second painting, I found myself far more engaged and excited. The round brush just felt more natural for this subject matter. It's probably why it's become my go-to brush for floral work over the years.

The way I could create those facing flowers – starting with an oval shape and then adding the radiating petals – felt so intuitive. Even when petals overlapped or merged (which they inevitably do in loose watercolor work), the round brush handled these transitions gracefully.

Technical Insights and Happy Accidents

Working Wet-on-Wet

Both paintings involved plenty of wet-on-wet technique, which creates those gorgeous organic bleeds. With the Artesa Expert paper I was using (cut from an 11x14 sheet), I noticed how easily the paint lifted and moved. Sometimes this created softer transitions; other times it mixed colors in ways I hadn't planned. Both outcomes taught me something about control and spontaneity in watercolor.

The Reality of Timing

In watercolor, timing is everything. I noticed my second painting (with the round brush) had areas that dried faster than expected. This is where experience comes in – knowing when to add water, when to let things be, and when to gently scrub for softer edges without completely mixing your colors.

Color Mixing Discoveries

That muddy mixture where red met green? Actually quite beautiful and realistic! Plants in nature aren't pure, bright colors – they have subtle earth tones and complex color relationships. That sap green mixed with red created exactly the kind of toned-down, natural green you'd see in real foliage.

The Verdict: Which Brush Won My Heart?

While both brushes created lovely results, I have to admit – the round brush won this particular battle. There's something about its responsiveness and intuitive nature that just clicked with the organic curves and delicate details of crocosmia flowers.

But here's the beautiful thing about art: there's no universal "right" answer. The flat brush offered its own unique qualities – those clean lines, controlled edges, and interesting mark-making possibilities. Some artists might find it opens up entirely new ways of seeing and painting florals.

Your Turn to Experiment

I'd love to know which version speaks to you more! Looking at both finished pieces, which brush technique draws your eye? Are you team flat brush or team round brush?

More importantly, I encourage you to try this kind of comparison study yourself. Pick a simple subject (maybe some flowers from your own garden), limit your color palette, and explore how different tools change your artistic experience. You might discover preferences you never knew you had!

What's Next in the Studio?

I'm always looking for new subjects and techniques to explore with you. What flowers are blooming in your area? What brush comparisons would you like to see? Drop me a comment – I read every single one and they often inspire my next tutorial!

Remember, these loose studies aren't about perfection – they're about play, discovery, and falling in love with the process. Whether you choose flat or round, the most important thing is that you're painting, experimenting, and enjoying this wonderful journey we call art.

Until next time, keep those brushes moving and your creativity flowing! 🌺

Reference photo credit: Copyright-free image by Gary J. Stearman, available on Unsplash