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After living at the beach for 4 1/2 months,
I was excited to return to the “city” and my studio space
for the month of August
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I did fall in love with watercolor during the past few months
and wondered if I would feel rusty
painting on larger surfaces with acrylic…
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I couldn’t wait to get started!
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I use a large wet palette box
when I plan to paint over the course of several days
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It has a large thin sponge in the bottom of the palette box
You saturate the sponge with water,
lay it inside the palette box
and top it with a sheet of palette paper
The paper absorbs moisture from the sponge
and keeps the acrylic from drying
When you’re finishing painting for the day,
snap the lid on and your paint will stay moist for days
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I usually lay out my colors in the same order,
Titanium white in the top left corner,
with Titan Buff directly underneath
Then from top left Cad Yellow Light, Cad Yellow Medium,
normally I would place several reds next
but this time I proceeded with Ultramarine Blue,
and Cerulean Blue,
knowing I would need them for mixing greens
I save the bottom row and lower left side for premixed colors
or “cheater’s colors*” in this case lime green, Hooker’s Green
Permanent Rose, Cad Orange and Bright Red
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To the left of my palette is a towel and container of clean water
A spray bottle of water is used moisten the paint on the palette
Okay, let’s paint!
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I used a black canvas I purchased earlier this year
and began by indicating the 2 large flowers
I wanted to be the focal point of the painting
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Next I filled in the rest of the composition
with scattered blooms of different sizes
using several photos for inspiration
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If you look a white objects carefully
you will see many different colors
that are created by shadows and reflected light
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Next I began adding greens
I also realized that the black canvas looked dull and flat,
much different than if I had painted it black myself,
so I decided to give it some depth
with subtle touches of blue
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I continued to fill in with more shades of green
filling out the flowers with subtle shades of peach and pink,
and yellow for the centers
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To finish the main flowers and to make them really stand out
I added thick strokes of white, mixed with soft gel
to extend the volume of the paint
Soft Gel medium can be mixed into any color
to increase the volume of the paint without distorting the color
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This is my palette near the end of this painting
You can see the various mixes of greens a
nd how I borrowed a touch of pink and orange
to mix into the white and buff
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I applied the final strokes
of white paint mixed with soft gel medium and touches of color,
with quick strokes of a palette knife
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“White Flowers” 18″ x 24″ acrylic on stretched canvas
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Try painting a subject freely,
with fast loose strokes,
creating an abstract impression
is a wonderful way to have fun with painting…
So have fun and Be Fearless!
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Juicy Details
note: sometimes I just use the palette paper without the sponge and box if I am going to paint for just one session. If you keep your paint moist with an occasional spritz from a water spray bottle, you can work for several hours then toss the paper away when you’re finished
Masterson Sta-Wet Palette Box {the one I use} available on Amazon here
12″ x 16″ Palette paper available on Amazon here
Sta Wet palette box with paper set available on Amazon here
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🎨 🌺 🎨
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I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Love Your Creativity Over the Moon
Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate Your Story,
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Make it Pretty Monday Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl
Turn About Tuesday Full Plate Thursday Centerpiece Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things Creatively Crafty Creative Cumpulsions