Learn to Paint A Simple Daisy

As promised, long ago, I am posting the how to paint a daisy tutorial.

This is part of the Learn to Paint series.  Click on link in navigational bar to see other posts in this series.

  I was working on a new chalkboard and thought the black background the perfect surface for some pretty summer daisies.  And since I was painting daisies this was good time to get the tutorial done.

This is a full shot of the chalk board so far. I may put a trim line along the side and bottom too or a daisy in each bottom corner. I am still deciding.



I also left the peek into my studio un-cropped, it gives you a quick idea of the “out of control chaos” goin’ on in there.

I will include links to several short videos.  The audio might not be the greatest but you really just want to see how I paint and not hear my yammering anyways.  They are short but many, I have not mastered how to splice videos together.  A techie trick I have to add to my ‘yet to learn’ list.

Now for the tutorial.

First off I have a drawing I work from.  Sometimes I don’t use one as I can just jump in and paint them but when you are starting out,  a sketch is good.  This came out of one of my painting books, I think a Priscilla Hauser one, not certain.



Since I will be working on a dark surface I will transfer the pattern with chalk instead of using graphite paper.  (there is white transfer paper but I am out of it at present)

I flip the pattern over and run a piece of chalk on the back surface mostly behind the drawing. 



Then I flip it face up, position it and take a pencil or pen and trace over the drawing. 

You end up with something like this.  I had hand drawn the circle in for the rose so I could position to daisies around it.



It is a bit messy with chalk dust but that dust brushes right off.
As is my usual practice I base in the leaves first, and the rose.  (to see how I do my leaves check this post: Leaves)



I undercoat the petals in an Vintage white.  I use a #6 filbert brush, Loew-Cornell. First I do paint in a small golden yellow oval for placement of the center.

Undercoat petals

When I am in a hurry I dry the separate coats with a blow dryer.  So between videos that is what I am doing.  If a coat is still to wet with acrylic craft paints it just pulls up the prior coat.

Once dry I apply the second coat to the petals in white.  You do not have to be perfect, if the undercoat shows around some edges that just gives it dimension.

Go over petals with white

Now for the centers. I go over the centers once again with the golden yellow color.

Shadow along the bottom of the center with a yellow ochre and along the top with a brighter yellow to highlight some.
You can tap it in or stroke it for whichever effect you wish.

work on centers

centers continued

centers dimple

finishing touches

Use a small flat brush to stroke in a small C stroke with Burnt Umber for a dimple. Seems I did not get a still shot of putting in that part but it is in the videos.

Here is the final result, some bright summery daisies on your chalkboard.



One final shot of the chalkboard.

That’s it for today folks.  Enjoy and happy painting. 






 
Share your cup Thursday

Hand Painted Signs going out the Door

I just sent out this Potting Shed sign.  The photo does not show up the pink rosebuds well but they are there.

I have been buried in painting up special orders as fast as I can.  I pop out of the studio here and there to grab a bite to eat and see to other necessary duties. 

My studio is crazy disorganized at this point but that is the way it goes when you have more items on your list than time in the day.
Another sign going out today.

Welcome to Our Cottage with Hydrangeas.  Love the colors together.
 
 
Between signs I have worked on the chalk boards a bit more.  I got the trim done on this one along the inside rim. I put chalk lettering on it so you can see it.



And I changed my mind on the frame for this one, I just painted a border along the edge and bottom though who knows I may decide to go ahead with the trim if I can dig out my table saw. 
 


I finally have gotten to that “how to Paint a Daisy” tutorial and will ‘hopefully’ post it on Monday, for those of you following my Learn to Paint series.

Here is a teaser photo. 



If all of that is not enough to keep me busy I have spent each evening learning how to make themes, child themes, writing CSS script etc. for my new website.  When I am done with all this I will be able to make anyone a website and/or edit pre-existing themes to my specifications.  (I hope)

Exercising my brain like this is good for it but I now have dreams about writing code, widgets and plugins. I have to keep reminding myself that Wordpress is my friend.

Actually, I have to commend all you out there that have posted videos and tutorials that are so user friendly in all of this stuff.  Especially the step by step screen shot videos.  They save me hours of work and frustration, for sure.
 
Okay, enough prattle from me, I am just checking in to let everyone know I have not fallen off this freezing earth.  At least freezing here.  A high of 32 degrees yesterday, brrrr.  A start of 25 this morning, it does take the studio heater a bit to warm it up at that temp. 

Back out to work I go. 
 
Happy Painting,