I like to add patterns to most of my paintings: to my flower paintings, figures but also landscapes and forest paintings.

Recently I did paint this forest scene with lots of added patterns.

Here are some pictures of the steps I took to paint Discovery Walk.

Discovery Walk, acrylic and mixed media on canvas

This painting will be exhibited at the Ferry building gallery for the Harmony showcase exhibition: July 29-August 14

Before adding patterns to any painting, you need to paint an image that will be visible underneath the patterns. I like to do so with fluid paint, either watercolors or fluid acrylics. Here because I am working on canvas, I chose fluid acrylic.

The first step is to make a drawing on your canvas. To do this I like to use a grid technique.

You might also be interested in: Drawing with a grid

I mixed a selection of colors with fluid acrylics and prepared them ready to be used in little containers. Then I am working with the canvas flat on a table so I can mix colors wet into wet.

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Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Water-Resistant Artists Ink FW Artists Ink is an acrylic-based, pigmented, water-resistant ink in a range of 38 colors, all of which have either a three-star or four-star rating for permanence. FW Artists Inks work well with airbrushes, dip pens, technical pens and brushes. – Primary Colors Set

I am not trying to be too precise at this stage, just to establish a background color with textures.

Working by painting successive layers, I start to add more colors to the tree trunks.

Still working wet into wet, I am also adding a bit of red and brown acrylic to the ground part of the painting to introduce a bit of contrast to the predominant green colors of the painting.

Working wet into wet allows for interesting textures to form on the canvas without too many hard edges.

I start to differentiate the trees in the front by painting them a bit darker. I will later choose patterns that keep those trees in front darker that the ones in the background.

Then the fun begins! Using Sakura Pigma micron markers I start adding patterns to the tree trunks.

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.

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Pigma Micron pens are acid-free and archival, making them ideal for any application requiring precision and permanance. Pigma ink is derived from a single pigment to ensure color consistency, and is fadeproof against sunlight or UV light. – Set of 6, Black

Some are drawn free handed and for some I will draw a grid before.

I keep on working until all of the trees trunks and the ground are covered.

On the ground part, I am having fun adding ferns, mushrooms,pine cones etc…

Discovery walk