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Mixing it up ! Zentangle forest painting step by step

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Drawing / Forest Paintings / Inspiration / Mixed media / Painting technique / Popular posts / Step by step demonstrations

Mixing it up ! Zentangle forest painting step by step

Mixing media is fun and freeing. See how you can add zentangle designs on top of a painting done with fluid Acrylic, and paint a beautiful zentangle forest.

To paint a zentangle forest, you will need:

  • canvas, I used a 12 x 36 inches pre stretched and gessoed canvas
  • Fluid acrylics inks, I used FW acrylics
  • Alcohol
  • Markers ( acid free and archival)
  • Krylon workable fixative
  • varnish to finish

You might also like: Painting a forest in acrylic with patterns : Discovery Walk

Here are the steps you can take to paint a Zentangle forest

start by a light wash of yellow acrylic ink

Start by a very light and watery wash, here I used yellow liquid acrylic.

I am adding a few drops on the acrylic ink onto wet canvas.

To paint that wash, add a few drops on the liquid acrylic on the wet canvas and spread the paint on the surface.

adding visual texture with alcohol on a wet acrylic ink wash

Then,spray alcohol while the wash is still wait to add some visual texture to the wet acrylic ink wash.

first layer of light yellow acrylic ink wash

Wait for that first layer to dry.

You will get a light uneven yellow wash

applying masking fluid on canvas with a silicon brush

When this wash has completely dried, transfer your drawing and mask a few areas with masking fluid. Masking fluid works well on canvas especially when working with fluid acrylic inks. I am using a silicon brush to apply the masking fluid, it is a very convenient tool as the fluid won’t adhere to the silicon brush and I can just peel it off once dry.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Colour Shapers Tools

Apply oil or acrylic straight from tube with a Colour Shaper, then carve back into paint for unusual surface effects. Also for calligraphy. Use the rubber tip shapes to lift or blend paint, draw line, and draw contours.

mixing different shades of green to paint the foliage wet into wet

Then paint wet in wet,mixing blue, green, brown, yellow and red liquid acrylic to make different shades of green. I like to start mixing my green from a base green: Sap green. As most greens in nature, it is a warm green.

paint the foliage using a wet into wet technique with acrylic inks on canvas

Start by painting all the foliage using a wet in wet painting technique.

Then I am painting the trunks, layering different colors until I am satisfied with the result.

Then paint the trunks, layering different colors until you are satisfied with the result.

When everything has dried, take off the masking fluid by delicately pulling on it. I make sure I didn't forget any area by passing my hand on the canvas, the masking fluid has a different texture that you can feel.

When everything has dried, take off the masking fluid by delicately pulling on it. Make sure you didn’t forget any area by passing your hand on the canvas, the masking fluid has a different texture that you can feel.

softening acrylic ink masking fluid hard edges on canvas with alcohol and a stiff brush

Then, with a very stiff brush, and water mixed with a bit of alcohol, rub the edges around the areas where you lifted off the masking fluid to make them softer.

At that point, I pause for a while and try to access what I like or not in the painting. To my taste, the green and blue are a bit too bright and taking over the painting, I also find the trunks a bit too dark because I want to add some black designs in that area later on and I want those designs to be visible.

  At that point, it is a good idea to pause for a while and try to assess what you like or not in the painting. To my taste, the green and blue are a bit too bright and taking over the painting, I also find the trunks a bit too dark because I want to add some black designs in that area later on and I want those designs to be visible.

painting white gouache wash over acrylic inks
painting with white gouache over dried acrylic on canvas

So I am painting a very watery wash of gouache, adding drips of white gouache. I am also glazing the trunks with a mix of medium and white acrylic.

Drawing the zentangle forest

The painting is almost done, now you can add some patterns in the trunks.

drawing a zentangle forest

I am adding zentangle patterns to the trunks with markers. If you want your painting to be archival, make sure the markers you are using are archival and acid free.

Start by an area of each tree and draw patterns to fill out all the trunk area.

Then I spray Krylon workable fixative before varnishing the canvas to make sure there won’t be any smudges while varnishing.

For zentangle patterns ideas you can look at my Pinterest board here.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Krylon Workable Matte Fixatif

Gives lasting protection to pencil, charcoal and chalk, yet erases easily. Clear, matte fixative is easy to work with. Dries in seconds, doesn’t wrinkle, smudge or smear. Spray can.

zentangle forest acrylic ink painting

The finished painting
Walking in the Woods
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
12 x 36 inches

4.4/5 - (5 votes)

Comments (7)

  1. […] Walking in the Woods Medium: Mixed media on canvas […]

  2. Judy

    I love your work Sandrine!
    I am curious about using fixative spray after the zentangles. Was this used before varnishing because of the use of markers? Haven’t yet to use it.

    1. Thanks Judy 🙂 Yes I used the fixative before varnishing to make sure the varnish would not make the designs bleed.

  3. jennifer

    Please can you tell me what brand of masking fluid do you use? While shopping for it online, I see some are only for model crafts but not for canvases. I’m not sure what kind to buy to use on canvas as you do here. THANK YOU!

    1. Hello Jennifer,
      I am using Da Vinci masking fluid, it is not specially made for canvas as it’s primarily use is for paper, bit it works also on canvas.

  4. Very useful. I was at a standstill with a painting I am doing of a group of trees.
    Your demo has really helped, so hopefully I can now finish it.
    Thank you

    1. This is great to hear, thanks Jennifer!
      Let me know how it goes:)

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