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How to paint Acrylic Flowers on board : In Glasgow

Painting flowers in mixed media from imagination, step by step demo by Sandrine Pelissier
Mixed media / Painting / Painting Flowers from Imagination / Painting technique / Step by step demonstrations

How to paint Acrylic Flowers on board : In Glasgow

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

prepare the wood surface for 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

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

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

mixing acrylic inks wet into wet

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

adding visual texture with alcohol on top of an acrylic ink wash

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

adding visual texture with alcohol on acrylic

Here is how it looks wet.

Let the acrylic paint dry

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

adding red acrylic ink

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

acrylic ink on gessoed board
painting a red ink wash
alcohol visual texture on acrylic wash

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

abstract background

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

light white ink wash

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

final abstract background

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.

outlining shapes for negative painting

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.

your composition can look a bit wonki

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

painting the negative space with white acrylic

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.

painting the negative space with white acrylic

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

negative space has been painted

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

painting over acrylic with mixed media

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.

glazing paint over acrylic

Here I am painting over the vase.

adding a bit of color variety
glazing paint

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

the vase has been glazed
adding designs with a dipping pen and ink

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

drawing designs on leaves

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

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 Sketching Project Set

This calligraphy pen and nib set gives you the tools needed to create beautiful works of art. Ideal for drawing, crosshatching, lithography, and fine details. Includes two plastic pen holders and six nibs.

using a pen with acrylic ink

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

Drawing straight lines with an ink pen
gris based design
leaves patterns
whimsical designs
you can use any color ink with a dipping pen
working on a background

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

light wash of orange acrylic

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

painting over the white acrylic on the background.
Then another layer of white.

and am painting over the white acrylic on the background.

Then another layer of white.

wheel pattern with pen and ink

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

keep adding patterns on your flower painting from imagination

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

Mixed media painting from imagination on board

In Glasgow

Mixed media on board

buy prints by North Vancouver artist Sandrine Pelissier

Original has sold, prints are available here

5/5 - (4 votes)

Comments (10)

  1. Isabelle

    Great tutorial, thanks so much! Merci beaucoup! I like the idea of painting the negative space, it takes me out of my comfort zone, and I like it!

    Isabelle

    1. Thanks Isabelle! I am glad you liked this post 🙂

  2. Jennifer Emerson

    Your work is beautiful! I am learning so much. What kind of pen are you using to dip in the liquid acrylic?

    1. I am using Speedball dipping pen, they are selling some set for sketching.

  3. Hi Sandrine,
    Thank you so much for sharing your technique. I have learned so much and find your style very appealing. I am trying to learn to ‘go with the flow’ and not be such a control freak 😉

    1. Thanks Mary-Anne, I see myself as a control freak at times too:)

  4. Sarah

    Hi. I’m enjoying your tutorials so much. Thanks! Wondering what type of varnish you use?

    1. Thanks Sarah! For varnishing I recommend Liquitex Soluvar Varnish or Gamblin GamVar Premixed Picture Varnish. Both can work with water based and oil based media.

  5. I’m popping over from Pinterest – thank you for such a gorgeous tutorial – your flowers are amazing – LOVE the inky patterns you drew!

    1. Thanks Michelle!

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