no. 8 flat • no. 10 flat • no. 16 flat
Thicket • Fresh Foliage • Magenta • Wicker White • Berry Wine
1. Create a Crackled Frame background following the instructions in the techniques section. The basecoat is Basil Green and the crackled frame topcoat is Linen. Let dry. Double-load a no. 16 flat with Thicket and Fresh Foliage. Place the stems and paint clusters of three leaves with teardrop petal strokes, keeping the Thicket to the outside.
2. Double-load Magenta and Wicker White on a no. 10 flat. Paint small, very pointed petals for the sideview blossoms, and a star-shaped cluster of five- or six-pointed petals for the open blossoms. Start at the base of the petal, push down on the bristles, slide up to the point as you lift to the chisel, then slide back down to the base. Keep the Magenta to the outside on all the petals.
3. The centers are painted with Berry Wine and Magenta on a no. 8 flat. Use the chisel edge to pull little curving strokes for the stamens. Pull them inward toward the center.
4. Pick up Wicker White on the same brush and paint a few lighter stamens among the darker ones. To complete the painting, add many more blossoms and make sure there are plenty of sideview blossoms. When the flowers are finished, float shading around the inner edge of the crackled frame to separate it from the background. Load a no. 16 flat with floating medium and side-load into a little bit of Thicket. Shade the corners and let it fade out along the sides.