A large peony step by step

A Large Peony 

watercolor 

18x24 inches 

This is the step for how to paint this big one 

Step one...find the effect. The patterns that glow inside the form

Step 2...find all the mid-tone patterns ....Knowing this is going to be darkened in the next step. Keep the glow using complimentary colors of yellow and lilac. Simplify forms find patterns.

Step 3. Not bad but lacks punch. Find the darkest patterns and use blue and red washes to create interlocking patterns. Stay big here no fussiness allowed.