🌻 Project 1: Copying Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Aim:
To closely observe and interpret Van Gogh’s composition, colour palette, brushwork, and use of line by creating a personal study of Sunflowers in a medium of your choice.

✨ Step-by-Step Instructions:

Observation & Sketching
- Begin by studying the Sunflowers painting carefully.
- Look at the composition, balance, colour relationships, and brushwork.
- Lightly sketch the main shapes and structure of the bouquet using pencil or a fine liner.
Choose Your Medium
- You may work in watercolour, ink, acrylic, oil, coloured pencil, gouache, or mixed media.
- Consider how your chosen medium can reflect some of Van Gogh’s expressive qualities.
Block in Main Shapes
- Start with large areas of tone and colour.
- Don’t worry about detail yet—focus on the overall balance of the piece.
Refine & Add Detail
- Build up your layers, noticing where Van Gogh uses contrast, thick vs thin lines, and strong shapes.
- Add texture, line direction, and character to each flower head and petal.
Final Touches
- Look at how Van Gogh treated the background—can you echo that approach?
- Add highlights or expressive marks that give your copy energy and movement.
Reflect
- Compare your piece with the original: What did you learn?
- Note what surprised you—was it the simplicity of the forms? The richness of the yellows? The looseness of the lines?

🌼 Project 2: Your Own Flowers in the Style of Van Gogh

Aim:
To apply what you’ve learned in Project 1 by creating an original floral composition inspired by Van Gogh’s energetic style—but this time using flowers of your own choosing.

🌷 Step-by-Step Instructions:

Choose Your Flowers
- Select a small bunch or bouquet—garden flowers, wildflowers, or even potted plants.
- Choose flowers with interesting shapes or personal meaning.
Create a Composition
- Arrange the flowers in a vase or jar. Think about variety in size, angle, and overlap.
- Make a few thumbnail sketches to experiment with layout and balance.
Sketch the Design
- Lightly draw your composition onto your painting surface.
- Think about how Van Gogh used movement and rhythm. Can you exaggerate shapes or angles for impact?
Apply Colour Expressively
- Use bold, harmonious colours. Push your palette—don’t be afraid of intense yellows, earthy greens, deep ochres, or contrasting backgrounds.
- Use directional brushstrokes or mark-making to describe texture and energy.
Add Van Gogh-inspired Details
- Consider including thick outlines, visible strokes, or layers of impasto-like texture.
- Create movement through repetition, curve, and confident lines.
Finishing & Evaluation
- Step back and view your work from a distance. Is the painting alive and vibrant?
- Reflect on your choices: How did you take inspiration from Van Gogh but make it your own?

🖌️ Final Thoughts

By completing these two projects, you’ll have developed both your technical observation skills and your artistic voice. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of Van Gogh’s style, and a greater confidence in making expressive, joyful work of your own.

Cindy Penner

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