Page 45 - The Decorative Painter Summer 2014

Acrylic
STEP-BY-STEP
BORDER
STEP 1 LEAvES
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 1 ROSES
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
PAINTING TIPS
There are some secrets to painting realistic roses. One of these is to keep the line drawing nearby, in order to refer to the composition within the rose. Think of the line draw- ing as a road map for the painting of this piece.
Another secret is to keep the paint transparent, apply- ing numerous layers rather than trying to get the job done in one or two. Multiple layers of transparent paint will cre- ate delicate, elegant roses.
First you’ll paint the leaves, which should be complet- ed to the first highlight and shading steps. This is to ensure that the leaves remain in the back and the flowers appear in the front. The details on the leaves, flowers, and back- ground should be painted all at once, after the basecoats,
highlights, and shading for each are complete. The overall detail will tie all the elements together. Always let the piece dry between coats.
An inky consistency—the consistency of 1% milk— works best for painting flowers. This is achieved with the correct brush-loading technique: Dip the brush in water and then tap excess out on a paper towel, until the shine is just gone from the bristles. Load the brush with paint by tipping one side into the paint, and then working the paint into the bristles with a series of back-and-forth strokes on the palette. This forms a traditional float, where a strong color on one side of the brush gradually transitions to the absence of color on the other side.
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