Creations, Painting Sunflowers
Sunflowers are everywhere right now and they are easy peasy to paint!
When you want to paint something take a few minutes to really look at your subject.
Look at the proportions of the different parts and study the color.
Do a couple of practice flowers. This is not a realistic technique so don’t over think it. Fast and loose brings the best result
Start with a large round brown dot and let it dry. I used a piece of parchment paper and a canvas bag for this demo. An easy way to make a large dot is by making a C and then a backwards C to form the perimeter. Adjust the shape and fill in the middle. The shape on the bottom right is for the center of a flower who’s petals are down turned
Dip a fat round brush, like a #8, into yellow, then orange, then yellow. This allows the paint to mix on the surface and gives the color instant depth. Make petal shapes by making short, quick strokes outward all around the brown center. Adjust the color as you go if it gets too orange or too yellow. Variation equals interest
Dip a clean smaller round brush, #6 into a dark green, then into yellow. Make a long stroke from the bloom downwards. Do this quickly for the straightest result- BUT it doesn’t have to be straight, a gentle curve looks good too.
Once the stems are painted add a couple of leaves. Dip brush in green, then yellow and make a quick stroke by placing the brush along the stem. Push down at the beginning of your stroke, then lift the brush off the surface to form the leaf tip
paI actually sort of twist the brush tip as I lift it off the finished leaf to get a little attitude 😉
When the bloom is dry, use the other end of the paintbrush to paint random black dots on flower’s center and let a few stray off onto the petals and around the flower
This is an inexpensive canvas bag from the craft store. Put a paper towel or piece of paper or foil inside the bag before you paint it to make sure the paint doesn’t seep through to the other side
Black checks look great with sunflowers so add those if you like, using a flat square brush
Sunflowers make a cheery centerpiece for a Sunflower Table
You can get a lot of bang for your buck by using small necked bottles and grouping them together
I like to use sunflowers in my early fall decor too
Real, faux, or painted, Fall means sunflowers to me~
Won’t be long now~
If you would like to see the tutorials for some of the things pictured here just click on the links below:
Note: I used acrylic gloss paint for this demo but you can use any acrylic craft paint. You don’t need special fabric paint to paint on cloth either, this textile medium can be added to regular acrylic paint to make the texture of dried paint softer on fabric and to keep it from cracking. You can get it at Hobby Lobby and probably anywhere that sells crafting supplies
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Thanks for the tutorial Jenn! I love your cheery sunflowers and I’m so enjoying mine blooming on my jar ♥
I have been enamored by sunflowers recently also. I don’t even own any paint brushes which probably tells you my painting ability level but I was intrigued by your tutorial.
Your sunflower tablescape is charming and artfully done. Love all your hand painted items.
Hi Jenna – So beautiful! I love sunflowers, they stretch high to kiss the sun. Love the paint tutorial and the tablescape and other vignettes. It’s like one big dose of happy to start the day! Hugs, Holly
Hi, Jenna! Thank you for this tutorial. I LOVE sunflowers and eventhough I’m not handy with a paintbrush, you’ve made things clear enough, that I’m going to try to make sunflower napkins! I’ll let you know if I’m successful or not! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch
P.S. LOVE your table, too!! The color combinations work so well. Wherever did you find those placemats?!
Please do let me know! The placemats are actually bandanas that I bought at Hobby Lobby last summer. They have a section of bandanas near the canvas totes and aprons etc. that are $1 each. They are perfect napkin size and always have an array of colors and fabrics to choose from~
Thanks so much for the tutorial, Jenna. I really need to pick up the brushes and paints again! Your pitcher is fabulous! Love it.
Just beautiful! Especially love the tote. 🙂
I love sunflowers. I’ve never tried painting, but you make it look easy.
thanks Kim, easy peasy~
Jenna, you make it look so easy! What a great tutorial for those of us like me who’s never picked up a paint brush other to paint the interior walls. Love your sunflower painting and your bottle vignette. That’s one I need to remember when arranging, I never have enough to fill a vase! I have just the bottles and I think I will pick up sunflowers tomorrow at the market.
Thanks Emily! I know what you mean, sunflowers need a lot of friends to fill a vase! But with their fat stems a wine bottle or such is perfect for keeping their heads upright, even one looks super cute! I bought those at Publix this week on their 3 for $12 floral deal~
You’re already delivering on your promise to give more painting tutorials. Thank you! Your sunflowers are very happy and fun. I especially love the black check detail with the sunflowers. I have some fabric medium, so I’m tempted to paint something fabric around here.
thanks Kim, let me know if you paint something~and how it turns out~
Of course I will tell you. 🙂 I hope you have a fun weekend!
I always love your tutorials — and these sunflowers are so pretty. Did you see my photo yesterday of the big field of these things behind Headley’s Market?
Thanks Ellen, sorry I have been behind on my reading~ great post, you gotta love the peach!
I love this DIY and the flowers look so pretty. Yellow is such a happy colour.
Living a stone’s throw away from The Sunflower State (Kansas), I see sunflowers in huge quantities just growing wild along the highways and byways. It’s really pretty cool, and it definitely gets me hyped up for all the late summer activities! I can’t paint a lick. I can barely write! I just don’t have that gene. But I love how you’re able to so effortlessly create such fun images!!! You really have “the gift”!!!
So cute- love the painted pitcher! I just saw a local field of sunflowers and I just wanted to run out and cut a bunch, but I figured I’d get in trouble for the!! LOL…
These are lovely, especially on glass.
Marie @ In Our Happy Place
I love sun flowers!! Thanks so much for your tutorial! I have been creatively blocked when it comes to tables!! I have been working on other projects – Your sunflower table looks so cute – makes me want to set a table!
Thanks Ann, glad I could help!
Thanks so much for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Very cool!
Leslie
House on the Way
Jenna,
Love, love, love, these sunflower, all of them. I think my favorite is the pitcher. Pinned!
xoxo
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Beautiful sunflowers! Your painting technique makes it look so easy that even I could do it!
I agree with Rosie, those “bandana” placemats are awesome on this table. The tablescape is a wonderful tribute to sunflowers – gorgeous! Thank you for the tutorial on painting sunflowers, it would be fun to paint some cheerful sunflowers on a set of napkins.
Let me know if they turn out!
Thank you so much for this! I love sunflowers! I feel like I could do this – I’ll give it a shot! 🙂 Will you link up to Merry Monday with us (Sundays 6pm pst). That would be awesome! Julia
This tutorial is so easy!! Thank you so much for such an amazing activity! I was wondering if there is something special that I have to use when painting on the glass? And, do I also have to do anything special to make it permanent? Thanks again! Love your site!!
Thanks Jennie, you have to use paint made especially for painting on glass and then it has to be baked to cure it. Be sure to check my post today on painting witches and pumpkins here http://thepaintedapron.com/2014/09/14/creations-painting-witches-and-pumpkins/
Reblogged this on Country Crafting & The Simple Life and commented:
Love her ideas