Dahlia Oil Painting Tutorial + Timelapse || How to Paint Realistic Flowers and Petals

How to paint dahlias, flowers, petals, and other floral still life paintings! This is an oil painting tutorial designed to help you tackle your own floral still life paintings.
This is "Marlene Dietrich," the first painting in the floral portion of my Square Foot Show series, which I've titled the Radiance Collection. This is painting number 4 of 12, and I have 8 paintings left to create in this online exhibition.
If this is your first time painting in oils, please don't be discouraged or frustrated with any setbacks! Learning a new medium takes time, and it took me a few years to become comfortable working with oils instead of acrylics. Stick with it, it's worth it!
I hope you enjoy, feel free to connect with me and let me know how I can support you on your own artist's journey! Tag me in any completed paintings that were inspired by this video so I can enjoy your artwork.
For the specific section on how to fix a mistake in an oil painting, see 5:17 onwards.
FULL FLOWER PAINTING COURSE NOW AVAILABLE!!! I am so happy to share that my first course, "Painting Flowers in Acrylic," is now available. Use code KZbin30 to take $30 off! The course is available here: courses.marian...
Don't forget to use the code, and happy painting!
Link to purchase original paintings, includes free shipping within the Canada and USA: mariannevander...
Follow me on Instagram: / mariannevanderdussen
Follow Teresa Overett (the original photographer) on Instagram: / ts_overett
Follow me on Facebook: / artbymariannevanderdussen
My website: www.marianneva...
For a complete introduction to acrylic painting, please see the Foggy Fence Painting Tutorial: • Peony Acrylic Painting...
Link to my free 36 page Introduction to Acrylic Painting eBook: tinyurl.com/42...
Link to my Amazon shop for art supplies and materials: www.amazon.ca/...
Please note: as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Art Incubator Facebook Support Group: / artincubatorwithmarianne
Materials used:
- 12" x 12" Gallery Profile Canvas
- Gesso
- Limited Palette: burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, quinacridone red, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium orange. (in this video, I used Winsor & Newton and M. Graham & Co.).
- Variety of brushes, including a foam brush for priming the canvas
- Favourite detail brush: black gold by dynasty mini-liner brush in size 20/0
- Winsor & Newton Liquin (both in fine detail and regular consistency).
- Kamar by Krylon spray varnish (after the video)
More about Marlene Dietrich and her incredible contributions to the war efforts:
"Marlene Dietrich: the Femme Fatale who Fought Social and Sexual Oppression" (CNN): www.cnn.com/st...
"Bombshells: How Marlene Dietrich and Leni Riefenstahl divided a world between them" (Washington Post): www.newyorker....

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

FULL FLOWER PAINTING COURSE NOW AVAILABLE!!! I am so happy to share that my first course, "Painting Flowers in Acrylic," is now available. Use code *KZbin30* to take $30 off! The course is available here: hcourses.mariannevanderdussen.com/offers/sTGLNjHa/checkout Don't forget to use the code, and happy painting!

[@steverichardson266]

You have incredible talent as an artist and as a teacher. The video is very well paced. I particularly like the captions highlighting key points. Please keep them coming.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much for this incredible feedback!

[@bilalpazarl2007]

Yaptığınız güzel çalışmalar içinizinde güzel olduğunu ele veriyor. Çünki kabın içinde ne varsa dışarı o sızar.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you again!!!

[@MentallyQuestionable]

Okay… I’m in LOVE with your videos!!! I usually work in colored pencil for realism but I’m totally headed to the canvas with my paints now. So inspiring!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Yay yay yay!!! I hope you enjoy your time painting 🥰

[@tusk242]

One thing I like before you painted is your studio ,looks like you really enjoy doing your work. Do you find COLORS you use, play a difference in your mood? People who are Depressed, seem to like FOG< Gray, which by no means mean those who choose these colors are depress, I too like the foggy days, and possible hear a LOON distant call. But the depress add droopy flowers, a drenched dog or cat , or distant cow trying to keep dry under a tree, which could end it's life by lightening strike. Dahlia very well done and your other small painting, Looks about 12 X12''

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi there, I typically don't find that the colours I'm using affects my mood while painting, and I typically try to use colour to mimic my subject as closely as possible since I'm a realist painter. I find all colour beautiful, whether it's toned back or vibrant. Thank you for your comment, have a great day!

[@shantellbell3480]

This is the most informative tutorial I’ve found in a minute!!! Any chance you can provide a link to the reference photo

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Shantell, thank you so much for this lovely comment!!! I don’t have the rights for this particular photo, I painted it with permission from a photo by TS Overett. BUT I do have this other dahlia reference photo if you’re interested, and all future tutorials will use reference photos that I have taken or have the rights to distribute: view.flodesk.com/pages/617da4db0b51fd1569c544e5

[@kckc1297]

Can you go a little slower,please.🙏🏻 Thank you.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m currently working on a course where I will do just that!

[@anavalenzuela58]

hola, pintas solo con oleo

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Ana, I paint in both oil and acrylic. This is an oil tutorial, but you can watch my peonies tutorial in acrylic here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnipm61jpdmSg80 or you can watch the dahlia acrylic tutorial here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4DYkmePf6-bY7c

[@Michelle-xk2vt]

I love your painting style, where do you think I should start? What is the easiest flower to paint. Tia

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Dahlias are a great place to start because they’re so structured! Good luck with your painting practice 🥰

[@adeledallasorr4736]

I love your painting style & would like to join your Face Book Group

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Awesome!!! Were you able to find us on Facebook?

[@martyl7066]

Question: Can you please make a tutorial on how to blend using oil paint? Because I still having problems blinding with oil paint..:-)

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Of course! One of the things I plan to work on once the square-foot show is complete is a longer form tutorial, where I slow down everything. This would include blending 🥰

[@schill1758]

Beautiful! I like how you show your mistakes and how you put them right. Very helpful, thank you.

[@pramoddas9265]

Beautiful painting.. Which brand paint using

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Primarily Windsor and Newton oils!

[@susyaguero8968]

Te quedó fantástica amiga! ❤salud desde Argentina!!!!❤❤❤

[@bonniekennedy7771]

Great job, as always! Someday I will have the time to try a painting like this out in my own, your tutorials are great!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Survive those last weeks of school and then worry about it! They'll always be here for you when it's time :)

[@Thelmita0072]

Can you please share the colors you use for lights and shadows

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

The shadows are formed using a base of ultramarine blue and burnt umber, then tinted with whatever colour I saw (usually quinacridone red in this painting). The highlights were just the main petal colour with additional titanium white 🥰 I hope this helps!

[@victoriatownsley2688]

What was the name of your projector, Victoria

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

It’s an Epson! It’s so old now I don’t think they make the model anymore but I bought it refurbished from the manufacturer 🥰

[@gauthierceline908]

Marianne, another wonderful inspiring painting!! I Thank you. I am interested to know how you decide if you will be painting your subject with oils or acrylics?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Great question! Honestly, I wish I could say definitively how I make my choice, but often it boils down to the subject (does it require lots of soft blends?) or logistics (do I need this to dry faster?). I think if I had to choose in a wrestling match between oil and acrylic that I would choose oil, but I love that acrylic is so easy to clean up, and because it dries so quickly, I can work quickly too, and not worry about smearing any wet areas because there really aren't any. That is a major limitation with oils. I'm sorry that this is a non-answer that basically boils down to "it depends", but I really do weigh it subject by subject, project by project!

[@gauthierceline908]

Thank you so much Marianne for your response. It helps me understand better. Again your paintings are always so amazing and inspiring! You are my #1 artist and teacher! Thank you so much. Take care!

[@CarolAnnArtisan]

It's stunning! Question - being new to oils, when you say you left it to dry overnight before going back to the largest petal, had you used any medium that would make the oils fast dry like Liquin or do you mean the paint will be dry enough after 10-12 hours to be able to work on an area previously painted? Thanks!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Liquin! I use it with every oil painting 🥰

[@joeirvine3398]

Great painting… love the colours … and thanks for the text box highlights too - much easier to read

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m so glad you noticed! I’m grateful for your original feedback and I think it’s a big improvement. If you hadn’t said it, I probably wouldn’t have changed it!

[@sharonhubert5061]

I love your paintings.. so beautiful 🤩💕 Thank you for the information also, very interesting.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thanks, Sharon! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!!

[@alfonsorincon1594]

Felicidades Mariam, un favor que pinceles utilizar en tus pinturas de flores gracias bendiciones 🙏🙏

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

¡Hola Alfonso! También vi su correo electrónico, actualmente estoy trabajando en un curso de pintura que espero esté disponible este verano.

[@alfonsorincon1594]

Gracias estaré pendiente ☺️ éxitos.

[@ali18398]

You took my breath away 😍 Your paintings sucked me in 😍😍😍

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!!! I love comments like these 😍

[@deblefebvre2068]

I love the way you explain your beautiful paintings in a way that encourages others that they (I) can do this! For me (who is self taught) it would be nice to see your reference picture all thru the painting.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m self taught too!!! For the reference, because it’s not my photo originally and used with the original photographer’s permission, I was reluctant to share it because I’m still learning all about rights and distribution when it comes to KZbin. But I’m hoping to do more paintings using my own photos so I can share them 😊

[@najasherin5420]

Breathtaking! 😍😍 Do more of your floral works! 😍😍❤️Waiting for more of thesee 🙌🏻

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I have a white tulip I’m working on! I was sidelined by working on a new studio space, but it should be finished and posted on KZbin in a couple of weeks 🥰

[@angelhanna9738]

I love from you to start step by step tutorial, am waiting for it

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

It’s in the works!

[@ruthprado320]

how to i download sketch of the dhalia?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Ruth! I don’t have the rights to distribute this dahlia photo, but if you sign up for my newsletter, you will be emailed a copy of a copyright free image of a dahlia. For this piece, I was given permission to paint this image by photographer Teresa Overett, who I have linked in the description, but I can’t distribute it. Happy Painting!

[@angellam3276]

Would it be possible to send the original photo you used as reference for this painting?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Angel! I can’t distribute this photo because I don’t have the rights to it, but I do have another dahlia reference that you can pick up for free through this link! Also I do have my free Art Incubator group where I have a full album of flower photos that I’ve taken that are fully copyright free! I hope this helps 🥰 mariannevanderdussen.myflodesk.com/hr8zy2ftf2

[@angellam3276]

@@MarianneVanderDussen thanks so much! You’re awesome 🥰🥰🥰

[@glimpses15]

Your paintings are absolutely gorgeous. Loved watching the video.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I appreciate your kind words! I'm so happy you enjoyed the video, it gives me so much joy to create them!

[@sophiabednarski2114]

Such a gorgeous piece. The name is very suitable. Love your tutorial. 💖

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Sophia!

[@carlaueda4089]

Sensacional. Linda.meu sonho é pintar.mas não sei nem por onde começar.

[@АсиятТохтамышева-с8т]

Супер класс супер работа 🎉🎉🎉

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!!!

[@marglawrence1530]

Love watching you working the colours into each petal. Such detail. Very inspiring!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thanks so much, Marg! I’m so excited to release the tulips once it’s finished 😬 just need another 6 hours or so of work!

[@julielynchdesign]

Thanks Marianne, such a helpful video!!!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m so happy you liked it, Julie!!! 🥰

[@trace6402]

Your ability to paint realistic depth is very astounding.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!!! That is such a compliment!!!

[@jacquelinehunter2533]

Beautiful work...do you teach privately?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Not at present! My goal is to keep building this channel to establish a fairly large library of teaching content, then hopefully expand into an exterior studio where I can offer in person teaching in North Bay. Once I have that space I may look into doing some coaching via Zoom 🥰 drop me a line at [e-mail] if you have any questions!

[@LizGridleyArtist]

Beautiful Colour choices, it has a glow!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much! I love making paintings looking like they're glowing, this comment means a lot to me!

[@drmeenakshisingla5960]

I just read your e book,Though I am painting for just less than 2 years,but I find your book quite eye opener...I ll go through your videos and love to watch your style and narrative too.Thanks 🌸🌸🌸for helping out....

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I'm so happy you found it helpful!!!! It took me years to come up with a workflow for paintings, so I'm happy to save everyone else the time!

[@azalea1404]

Absolutely stunning, Marianne. And I love dahlias - had a lot of garden pots full of them last summer. It is such a pleasure to watch you work! Thanks for explaining your technique! ❤🙏❤👍🙂

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I can’t wait for dahlia season!!! I’m so happy you found the video helpful 🥰

[@martyl7066]

Thanks for the amazing tutorial. I really thought that if we painting with oil paint, we JUST wear some kind of gloves???? I'm so confused.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I don’t wear gloves, I know quite a few people who do and quite a few people who don’t. I don’t work with toxic paint, like lead, so I don’t worry about it.

[@marion957]

I've been struggling lately with continuing my 3'x3' flower painting i am doing, well the tips here have given me the confidence to start again and not feel like I'm doing it wrong. Thank you! So glad i found your channel, I've never at her this probably 10+ times so far lol

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I hope you have kept going!!! I’m so happy to have helped you rediscover your confidence.

[@yamashitacorona3926]

I'm so inspired now💯🤗

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

YAS!!! 🙌🙌🙌 get it done!!!

[@judithelder-mccartney1540]

Your paintings are so beautiful Marianne.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!

[@desireeyoung2814]

Your painting is incredibly beautiful. I loved being able to watch it come alive! I’ve been timid about learning to use oil paints, but your channel makes me think it would be worth the effort.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

The hardest part of the learning curve for me, with oil was learning to clean the brushes, and the longer dry time. However, once I just did that, I fell in love with oil and haven’t looked back. I still like teaching and working in acrylic, but oil certainly gives me more versatility for creating those beautiful soft blends.

[@marcellaulrikaulltjarn5406]

Wanderfull.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you!!!

[@stutijuneja4512]

Beautifully designed! :)

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you! 😊

[@tiffanyshiels8346]

Your work is absolutely gorgeous.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thanks, Tiffany!

[@sherylb9767]

Wow wow wowww

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you, Sheryl!

[@TRES_.]

thank you for this wonderful art and for an awesome tutorial..

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

You’re welcome, Myk! Thanks for taking the time to write 🤗

[@TRES_.]

@@MarianneVanderDussen I just started painting so this was a HUGE help and I learned a lot..

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Amazing!!!

[@whiteblossom4077]

Thks really in depth Tutorial thk you in to new levels 👋👑🧁☕

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

[@sowmyasureshkumar3641]

U r a amazing artist,I am in love with your work and style.lot to learn from you 😍

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jimmatthews1930]

Thanks for sharing! You are an excellent instructor…

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Jim!!! I’m glad you enjoyed it ☺️

[@carmenjones864]

thank you for all the information,you are an amazing teacher

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Carmen!!!

[@emim8989]

Amazing! Thankyou so much for sharing ❤

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@terryreynolds13]

spectacular! Just started painting again after a long hiatus. Got worn out with painting one after another @ a market. Just grinding them out to make ends meet. I've always had trouble with flowers. After spending years painting animals, barbarians, lol and monsters I'm going to give flowers a good try. Thanks for the inspiration and explanation. Your work is amazing!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Terry! Thanks so much for taking the time to write! While I definitely won’t have tutorials coming down the pipeline for barbarians (I wish!) there will definitely be more flower, wildlife and landscape tutorials coming! I wish you great success with your flowers and keep me posted on the progress 🙂

[@terryreynolds13]

@@MarianneVanderDussen thanks marianne, will do!

[@annalisafineart]

I hope to achieve this level in my art career. Beutiful

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!

[@towardsthelight4919]

Beautiful ! Could you please do some real time painting tutorial for people who are new. I appreciate the highlights etc but how to mix the colours and apply in real time would be helpful. I went to your Instagram as you mentioned in another acrylic painting to see Realtime footage but it’s not in longer real-time footage so please do some if you could ?.....thank you so much 🙏 your work is amazing! 💕

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi there, so there are real time live tutorials through my Facebook page (go to Marianne Vander Dussen - Visual Artist and click on the video tab) but I don’t have any on instagram…HOWEVER I am currently working on and planning an acrylic flower painting course. It’s in the works!!! Stay tuned 🥰

[@towardsthelight4919]

@@MarianneVanderDussen thank you 🙏

[@icy5668]

amazing !❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thanks!

[@fayedykema8633]

Amazing! Such life-like details

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Faye!!! I hope the tutorial thoroughly broke down how those details came to life 🥰

[@fayedykema8861]

@@MarianneVanderDussen I even applied some of the same techniques for coloring into some colored pencil sketch I did recently.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Oh this makes me so happy!!!

[@tiyotiyo2301]

Explanation is really helpfull Thankuu

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

You’re welcome!

[@inns777]

I'm wowed!!! I'm happy that I found you.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m so happy you found me too! Welcome to my channel!!!

[@tingtingho2239]

I like your arts so much.Thank you

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Ting Ting! It means so much to me when people take the time to write.

[@rosablue3756]

Mammamia!!!!precioso,felicidades,gracias desde España

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Gracias, Rosa!

[@ЕленаЛазарева-ш9д]

СУПЕР, СУПЕР 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤩СПАСИБО

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’m happy you enjoyed it!!!

[@jansoules7912]

Such beauty! Amazing talent.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

That means so much, Jan! I’m glad you enjoyed it!!!

[@minkalevstik5884]

Perfect 👌

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thanks so much!!! 🥰

[@Toofastfourluv]

Can’t see drawing How can we begin tutorial with no reference?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi Dedra! The tutorial isn’t designed to copy the piece, but to provide strategies and techniques to tackle your own floral painting 🥰 the original reference came from Teresa Overett (I’ve linked her Instagram above) who gave permission for her photo to be used for this painting. I can’t distribute her original photo without permission. However, I’m confident that applying many of the same techniques on a different photo will yield similar results. Happy painting!

[@Toofastfourluv]

@@MarianneVanderDussen thanks

[@fadilasides3080]

Vraiment splendide bravo ❤❤❤❤

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Merci beaucoup!

[@Maria_Lourdes]

Very talented. Very graceful.

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much 😀

[@susanwicks6435]

Wow what an amazing painting

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you!!!

[@colorfuldreams2021]

Very professional:)

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much!!! 🥰

[@LeahPaintsWot]

Im loving this 😭🎨💗

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you!!! This one was my personal favourite of the three flowers I painted in this series 🥰🥰🥰

[@paulaartandmusic4412]

Ahhhhh, spectacular!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you, Paula!

[@lotusflowerpassion]

so beautiful

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you!

[@thanhhuyendoan1527]

So beautiful

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you! 🌷

[@RY-ey7dx]

Hi @Marianne wasn’t this a live full tutorial?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi there, I only offer live tutorials through my Facebook page at present! This painting took 25 hours to complete, and as such was condensed 😊

[@RY-ey7dx]

@@MarianneVanderDussen okay thanks for directing to the Facebook page, will check for future. I saw your Instagram post about live painting and thought it may be via KZbin live. Thanks. Great work and hope to see more of floral painting tutorials 🌸

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I’ll be doing lots of live teaching in the future! I’m in the building stages of this channel (posted my first video less than four months ago) so I’m listening to feedback and designing this channel with the artist in mind 🙂

[@RY-ey7dx]

@@MarianneVanderDussen Good luck, looking forward. Will definitely drop any feedback/ideas !

[@gesitsehardyon3386]

ar u use a references?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I am! The information is linked in the description 🙂

[@mdsaddam7304]

@@MarianneVanderDussen so nice.i see her a lot of Information in your videos, thanks a lot deer MVD.form Bangladesh, also work art and paintings.

[@НатальяАлекменская]

Великолепно!

[@cynthiasamson8830]

So beautiful.. I love it.. ❤️

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much, Cynthia!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

Gorgeous painting!!! Love your color choices!!

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Thank you so much! Teresa Overett made it easy with her gorgeous reference!!!

[@Rita-vp7so]

Bellissimo 😍brava

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Grazie, Rita!