Winter’s Diamond: Painting a Hellebore Flower with Willow Wolfe

Discover the beauty and versatility of water-mixable oils as we paint the elegant hellebore in rich, luminous shades of blue. No drawing or painting experience is required, as we apply a line drawing to your surface before you arrive. 

Designed for beginners, this class introduces the essential techniques of oil painting through a beautiful floral study. You’ll learn how to control the consistency and application of your paint, load and manipulate your brushes, blend colors directly on the surface, and create smooth transitions from deep shadow to luminous highlights.

We’ll explore petal formation using brush pressure and direction to create soft and crisp edges, layer color, and use subtle shifts in value and temperature to separate overlapping petals and add depth to the flowers. You’ll also learn how to establish dark foundational values, build lighter colors over them, and use highlights selectively to create form rather than simply outlining each petal.

Along the way, we’ll explore how different blending brushes—including the Dodo Drybrush and Mini Mop—can soften transitions, refine edges, and create the smooth, dimensional finish characteristic of oil painting.

Your line drawing will already be applied to the oil paper, allowing you to focus entirely on learning the painting techniques. No drawing or previous oil-painting experience is required.

Note: We will work to complete many aspects of your study during class times, and we will ensure we squeeze out enough paint for you to complete any remaining florals at home. 

Materials

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color – Willow Wolfe Set

Willow Wolfe Callia Brushes Blending Set

Willow Wolfe Callia 1/4” Dodo Drybrush

Willow Wolfe Callia Brush 1/8” Mini Mop

Opus Palette Paper

Oil Paper Surface  

Paper Towels