How to Paint Flowers on Wood
Painting flowers on wooden surfaces can bring some of the beauty of nature indoors. It's an easy way to add interest and freshness to thrift store purchases or to brighten a worn wooden surface. Decorative painted flowers will add beauty to furniture, floors, walls or accent pieces such as wooden bowls or picture frames. The technique is the same for all wooden surfaces, and you don't need expensive supplies or a degree in art to achieve good results.
Things You'll Need
- Picture or stencil of desired flower
- Sandpaper
- Acrylic medium
- Soft lead pencil
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- Clear shellac
Instructions
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Plan your project. Find a picture of the flower you want to paint, or use a stencil. Measure to ensure that the flower is the right size to fit where you intend it to go. If it is not the right size, enlarge or shrink the design with a copier. If you plan to draw more than one flower, sketch your design on paper first. Choose the acrylic paint colors that will complement the color of the wood.
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Prepare the surface of the wood. Lightly sand the wood with fine-to-medium-gauge sandpaper, working with the grain. When you are finished, clean the surface of the wood with a sticky tack cloth so that it is free of all dust. Seal the surface with a coat of acrylic medium.
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Lightly sketch the outline of the flower onto the wooden surface with a soft pencil, using the stencil if desired. You can use rub-on transfer paper if you are not happy with your sketching abilities. Fill in the details and check to be sure the design looks the way you want it to look on the surface of the wood.
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Paint the flower with acrylic paints. You may want to practice on a piece of paper before you begin work on your wooden object. Paint the design, working from the edges toward the center, allowing one color to dry before adding the next color. Start with the lightest colors and then add the darker colors. Outline the flower in black or a darker shade of the color of the flower.
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When the painted flowers are completely dry, seal the wood to protect your work of art. Apply at least two coats of clear shellac over your painting. Be careful to brush the shellac on smoothly and avoid any bubbles or drips. Allow this coating to dry completely in a dust-free room that is safe from pets and little fingers.
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