Floral Paintings in Spring

Step by step guide to creating acrylic floral paintings.

 

 

There is nothing more delicate then spring blossoms. They can be with us for a few weeks or cut short by a sudden cold snap and that very unwanted snow storm, hail storm and blowing wind.

I wanted the colours to be soft and flowing from one element to another to emphasize the fragility of these flower blossoms. I did this by watering down the acrylic before I put my brush to the canvas. The background was done using the watercolour painting technique of placing wet paint on a wet surface. This allows for the pigments to spread and blend naturally which has given this painting it’s soft look. This technique suits the floral painting as it compliments the soft look of delicate petals.

 

I  began the rough sketch for the third painting in my Floral Paintings series with my focus on lines and shapes. This work will showcase the paths created by the branches and the shapes created by the negative space that is cut in and around the graceful folds of the blossoms. I spent careful time delineating the lines and negative space. I brought back the textures and movement with my brushwork.

 

 

 

 

The purpose  of the sketch is to outline the composition. The sketches that I have been doing for these acrylic floral paintings show the importance of  delineating the compositional elements, shapes and lines. The shapes of the flower petals are drawn and distinguished with an addition of a few shadows. The negative spaces between the branches are also clearly visible with their asymmetric rectangles. Where to begin putting your paint onto the canvas becomes clear and well planned. The paint drys quickly and there are less layers of paint and almost no push to the paint. Acrylic is not as immediate as watercolor but it does call for a quicker process than oils. When I am working on an oil painting I find that my sketches are just a few lines with very little detail, with oil I rely on layering and pushing and pulling the paint around the canvas.

Floral Paintings

I mixed a light, medium and dark colour pallet for this floral painting with an addition of white for the highlights and a raw dark to accentuate the details. I needed to create the 3D feel of the flowers. I took my time to show the folds, shadows and the variations of shades with these flowers.