It can be a fun sometimes to make a painting only from imagination. As a blank canvas can be intimidating, I like to start this kind of painting with an abstract background as it gives a starting point for you imagination to kick off.

You might also like: Online art class: Painting Flowers from imagination in mixed media

Here are the steps you can take to paint flowers in mixed media from an abstract background

You will need:

• A stretched canvas, I used a 12 x 12 inches canvas
• Fluid acrylic gel medium
• a spatula
• Fluid acrylic, I used Golden
• Rubbing alcohol
• A spray bottle of water
• Brushes
• Sharpie white oil marker
• White acrylic, I used Pebeo
• White Sharpie Oil marker
• charcoal, conte pierre noire or Nupastelcolor stick.
• Water resistant acid free markers,I used Sakura Pigma micron markers

1- paint an abstract background on your canvas

Apply gel medium with a spatula on a 12 x 12 gesso primed canvas.

Then splatter a few drips of fluid acrylic ink here and there on the wet gel medium.

Spread the gel and fluid acrylic with a spatula and spray a bit of water to help the colors mingle.

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.

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

The canvas will looks something like this at that point.

To add a bit more texture you can add  a few drops of alcohol as well.

I also added a few drops of white fluid acrylic.

Wait for the canvas to dry completely before going to the next steps.

2-Looking for shapes in the abstract background:

Then the fun part begins, as you have to try to find shapes in the abstract patterns of the canvas. Outline these shapes with charcoal, conte pierre noire or Nupastelcolor stick.

3-Paint the negative space with white acrylic paint:

Then block all the negative space with white acrylic paint or any other color you want to use.

4- Exploring a few ideas for the backgound

Time to add some extra details and patterns, but first I want to add a bit of complexity to the background.

I want to try a purplish color in the background.

I am painting this mix around my red orange positive shapes on the background.

The purple is too dark for the background but it will make interesting edges around the red shapes.

I am adding another layer of semi transparent white acrylic, the purple still shows at some edges.

I am then painting a very light green wash of fluid acrylics.

Now I will add design, with an oil white marker and with a red marker.

5- Adding details and patterns to the flower painting

You can use markers to add designs, make sure they are water resistant and acid free.

You can get inspiration for your designs in many places, I like to look at zentangle designs.

You can paint with watercolor or fluid acrylic on top of selected areas.

You can use a White Sharpie Oil marker to add designs on top of a darker background.

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.

Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers, White, Medium Point Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers are great for touching up wood and metal, personalizing belongings, or adding pizzazz to school projects. Decorate and add accents to a variety of items, even non-porous materials such as glassware and terracotta.

Add stripes, dots, and any kind of repetitive pattern.

You can also paint over some areas with white acrylic paint to lighten them up.

Orange Bouquet, mixed media on canvas, 12 x 12 inches