Speckled Pink Coneflowers, 12X12, multimedia, information

One of my favorite colors to add excitement and texture to my oil florals is an underpainting of textured Quinacridone Magenta in acrylics. Just a little prep work with acrylics can give you an exciting backdrop of color, and ridges of chunky depth that play a part in creating a vibrant, multifaceted garden even with simple blossoms such as coneflowers. I’ve shared a step by step with you here. The part you won’t have to see is cleanup duty! My studio is looking a bit like a factory showroom, after all the parts have been disassembled and then reassembled, and spattered with paint.

I hope you’ve been enjoying this recent series of color journeys here on the Blossom Blog. If you have, please share the news with your flower friends, what a beautiful gift that would be to me!

PS: You can find all my favorite colors and supplies here.

Magenta underpainting — Step One – First lay in a spiral of loose acrylic color in Quinacridone Magenta. Any brand or type of acrylic will do! I used Golden fluid here. Leave some thick edges for texture.

Dry the acrylic thoroughly — Step Two – Using a blowdryer, dry the layer of acrylic paint completely. Be sure the thicker bits are dry, too. You can also let it sit overnight to dry.

Now it’s time to lay in oil colors. Use a cross-hatch stroke with a large brush combining three values of warm green. Be sure to leave openings so that gorgeous magenta can shine through. Looks a bit like a pastel painting, don’t you think?

After you’ve finished your flowers in oils, mix your medium in with some gold oil paint. Any brand will work, I’m using Fine Gold by Rembrandt here. With an old toothbrush, sprinkle gold dust liberally upon your blossoms! It’s almost like pollen is drifting through the garden ~ how cool is that?

Did you enjoy this color tip? You can find many more in my upcoming online class, Painting Monet’s Garden!

Painting Monet’s Garden Registration Is Open!

Here’s your first look

Pack your sun hat, your colorful brushes, and your love for flowers and gardens – your invitation to a summer with Monet is here! Painting Monet’s Garden, my new online workshop, opens in 10 days. With eight full-length lessons to download and keep, prepare to embrace the place Monet loved best in the world!