Flower Painting Tutorial

Paint simple flowers

Flowers are a popular and sometimes complex painting subject matter. From Monet to Van Gogh, Gaugin to Cezanne, many of art's greatest masters have painted flowers. While we're not all masters, we can try our hand at painting flowers. Starting with a basic flower shape is good for learning how to paint flowers, and stylized flowers are easier to paint than ones which look photorealistic.

Things You'll Need

• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Two paper pieces
• Wedge paintbrush

Instructions

1. Put two dobs of paint onto a piece of paper that you will use for a palette. Use complementary colors, such as red and yellow, or red and white---these colors will make up the colors of your flower petals.

2. Place one edge of the brush into one color o fpaint, and the other edge of the brush into the other color of paint. Work the paint together by brushing in a short line on the palette, so that the colors blend in the center.

3. Reapply the paint, the same colors on each edge, then work it again in a short line on the palette, so that both faces of the brush are well covered in paint.

4. Place the brush onto the other piece of paper, where you want the flower to go. Move the brush in a slightly elongated, circular motion, so that the color is swept onto the page in one, clean move, forming a petal. The darker color should be on the outside edge, so that the petal is outlined.

5. Re-position the brush next to the first petal, and repeat the circular movement, forming a petal beside it. Reapply paint to the brush if necessary, from the residue on the short lines painted onto the palette.

6. Paint four or five petals in this way, moving each one in a circular motion until you have your flower.

7. Add a dab of golden to the center of the flower if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Applying two colors to the paintbrush helps achieve effortless shading and depth.

• For flowers that don't have rounded petals, such as sunflowers, a single, short stroke creates the petals.

References

• YouTube: Painting Flowers Made Easy

Resources

• Empty Easel: 4 Ways to Mix Acrylic Paint and Create Your Own Colors