Painting Acrylic flowers on board with mixed media is a bit different than painting on canvas, if you want to start on a white surface you will have to apply either gesso or acrylic on the board. I find it easier to start from an abstract background when painting from imagination so after the first layer of gesso I did paint an abstract background with ink and fluid acrylic.

Here is how you can paint Acrylic flowers on board.

You will need:

• A cradled panel board, I used a 12 x 12 inches Gotrick’s panel
• Gesso, I used the Liquitex basics brand
• White Acrylic, I used the Opus brand
• Fluid Acrylics, I used a selection of FW brand
• Ink, I used Speedball in Teal green
• A selection of brushes
• Pen
• Graphite pencil
• Varnish to finish

How to prepare the wood surface before painting

Apply a generous layer of gesso with a large brush on the wood and leave to dry.

Texture from your brushstrokes will show on the painting, it doesn’t bother me as I like it to be part of the painting texture.

Gesso is a bit more absorbent than canvas or yupo paper so you have to work a bit faster so the paint doesn’t dry before you are done. Here I added a few drops of fluid acrylic and Ink.

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.

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Golden High Flow Acrylics

Incredibly flexible, Golden High Flow Acrylics have an ink-like consistency that lends itself to a wide range of techniques painting, drawing, staining, glazing, inking, hand-lettering, airbrushing, and more. – High Flow Colors, Set of 10

and did spread them with a brush on the surface, often I will also use my fingers at that stage.

Sprinkling a few drops of alcohol will add blooming textures to your background.

Here is how it looks wet.

And here is how it looks dry, the texture became more subtle.

I want a bit more of a reddish color to start so I will paint a red wash of fluid acrylic ink.

I am also adding a few drips of alcohol on that layer.

The panel now looks like that, now I want a bit more light.

so I am adding a bit of white ink with a light wash.

This is how the abstract background looks when dry, it is going to be the basis for painting the flowers from imagination.

Painting acrylic flowers on board from imagination.

The first step is looking at the abstract shapes and trying to see shapes that you like, then outline those shapes with a graphite pencil or nupastel.

They don’t have to look perfect, as it is even better if they look a bit wonky.

Then select a few brushes to paint the negative space,that is everything around the shapes you outlines. You want a smaller brush for details and a bigger brush for larger areas.

Paint everything except the shapes you want to keep. I am using white but you could select a different color.

This is how the painting looks like after the negative space has been painted.

Then you can paint over some areas with fluid acrylic, ink or watercolor.

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.

Speedball Calligraphy Inks Speedballs’ rich vivid colors are formulated from the best pigments on earth. This excellent, high quality ink can be used for a variety of techniques. All colors are intermixable and waterproof once dry. Colors are lightfast and acid free.

Here I am painting over the vase.

It is good sometimes to stop and change your mind. Here I decide to go for a greener shade on the vase.

Then you can start adding designs with the pen dipped in fluid acrylic or ink, you could also use markers.

Board is not the best surface to use the pen as the texture gets a bit in the way but it is still manageable.

You can switch colors, I usually use the same colors I used to paint my background.

At that point I decide to re-work a bit the background.

So I am preparing a very  light wash with my orange fluid acrylic.

and am painting over the white acrylic on the background.

Then another layer of white.

Keep on adding designs until you are satisfied with the result.

The when you are done, finish with a layer of varnish.

In Glasgow

Mixed media on board

Original has sold, prints are available here