> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://cecilieo.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Watercolor a Red Panama Rose - URL: https://cecilieo.com/how-to-watercolor-a-red-panama-rose/ - Published: 2025-12-05T14:12:01.000Z - Updated: 2025-12-05T14:12:01.000Z - Description: An easy watercolor flower tutorial. Paint the lush, red Panama Rose. Also called Bush Penta or Fragrant Rondeletia, it has many small flowers. - Author: Cecilie Okada - Tags: Flowers If you want to paint a cheerful watercolor, the red Panama Rose is a good choice. The cluster of small flowers has a simple shape, and so do the leaves. The Panama Rose, also known as Fragrant Rondeletia, is a shrub with numerous medicinal properties. It is used in [traditional plant medicine](https://www.google.com/search?q=Panama+Rose+traditional+healing&rlz=1C5CHFA%5FenNO1115NO1116&oq=Panama+Rose+traditional+healing&gs%5Flcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTEzNTA4ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ref=cecilieo.com), and [scientists](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41244071/?ref=cecilieo.com) are also studying various healing aspects of the plant. Loved by butterflies and hummingbirds, it is a great choice for your garden. I photographed the flowers in Kyoto´s botanical garden. That was a few years ago. I could not decide which of the two photos to paint, so I sketched both. That worked well, because one of them did not work out well. ![Red Panama Rose reference photo 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/2_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) ![Red Panama Rose reference photo 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/3_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) ## Sketching the flowers Fixing my attention on the little flowers, I sketched both clusters. Sometimes I feel confused drawing many overlapping flowers. This time, it was a relaxing exercise. I believe it was due to the intense focus. ![Sketching a Panama Rose flower cluster 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/4_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) ![Sketching a Panama Rose flower cluster 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/5_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) If, however, you are not keen on sketching, you can download mine. It is a clean outline drawing of both flowers, available to[ Level Up](https://cecilieo.com/about-level-up/) members. When you join the [free One Tree Art Club](https://newsletter.cecilieo.com/one-tree-art-club?ref=cecilieo.com), you can download free outline drawings for many of my tutorials. ### Transferring the outline drawing for painting Using transfer paper, I traced both drawings. Learn how to [trace onto watercolor paper.](https://cecilieo.com/how-to-trace-onto-watercolor-paper/) ![Transferring the flower sketch to watercolor paper 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/6_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo-1.jpg) I then transferred the drawings to watercolor paper. The paper was already [stretched on a wooden board](https://cecilieo.com/mounting-watercolor-paper/). ![Transferring the flower sketch to watercolor paper 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/6b_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) ### Painting flowers with watercolor The first step is to paint the yellow centers of the flowers. ![Paitning the center of the flowers yellow](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/7_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) Next, paint the leaves with a generous amount of water. The water will allow the color to spread unevenly. ![Painting the leaves with watercolor 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/8_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) I painted with green first, then added a little blue. Let the colors flow. ![Painting the leaves with watercolor 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/9_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) When the leaves are dry, paint the red petals. ![Painting the red flower petals 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/10_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) Add some orange to the center of the flowers. ![Painting the red flower petals 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/11_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo-1.jpg) ![Painting the red flower petals 3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/12_panaman_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo-1.jpg) You can decide that your painting is done now. Or you can continue with more details. My tools for working on the details are white gouache and colored pencils. A fine brush is also needed. ![Tools for adding details to your watercolor painting](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/13_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) It is hard to describe this last step. It is a creative process where you mix and match the rendering tools as you go. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2024/08/free-download-graphic.png)](https://newsletter.cecilieo.com/one-tree-art-club?ref=cecilieo.com) Sign up for my free newsletter. Get access to the free library of line art. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/14_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/90/28/902889ae-a25f-49d4-9270-dcc363f404b7/content/images/2025/12/15_panama_rose_watercolor_tutorial-_cecilieo-3.jpg) Happy painting! [Guide to Art Supplies](https://cecilieo.com/guide-to-art-supplies/) More tutorials with red flowers and a red cardinal: [Easy Watercolor Art: Red Flower Tutorial With Colored Pencil Accents](https://cecilieo.com/easy-watercolor-art-red-flower/) [How To Watercolor An Amaryllis Flower](https://cecilieo.com/how-to-watercolor-an-amaryllis-flower/) [Flowers to Paint in Watercolor: Velvet-Red Slipper Orchid](https://cecilieo.com/how-to-watercolor-a-red-orchid/) [Drawing with Colored Pencils: Realistic Cardinal Tutorial](https://cecilieo.com/drawing-with-colored-pencils-cardinal/)