Welcome back to class, Creative Friend!

In continuing with the Birth Flower Series, today we are going to learn how to paint loose daffodils to celebrate the March birthday.

The daffodil continues to be one of my most favorite flowers to explore. With so many variations from which to choose, it was difficult to select only a few, however I am confident you will find beauty in those that have been chosen. By the end of this class you will be well acquainted with this flower and ready to continue exploring possibilities should you wish to.

Early Practice:

We'll begin our time together by observing both live flowers I have brought into the studio as well as a few images online. Together we'll discuss the shapes and structure of the flowers, and any other details that feel special. This time will be used to stir inspiration and help you collect information about the flowers.

As always I will emphasize capturing the flowers through a loose lens, keeping our objective simple rather than narrow focused. Main strokes and minor details should be thoughtful and intentional, without feeling the need to pin down every mark.

Exploring Shape:

Using the pinwheel flower as a basic guide, we will take a few moments to sketch the daffodils with our paint brush as an exercise to help us capture the general shape and structure of the flower. This time spent in preparation for the lesson will be extremely beneficial later on when we go for it and begin painting the daffodils.

Color Creation:

We'll be using a somewhat minimal palette today, featuring yellow, gold, orange, coral, and green, however each color combination will open up new possibilities.

Class Project:

Next up is our class project where, using the knowledge gained from our time in study and application, we'll assemble beautiful bouquet of daffodils featuring all three varities explored in previous lessons. I'll take you through the composition, flower by flower, explaining the why behind the choices I make and setting you up for ultimate success.

Skill Level:

Although some introductory material will be provided, basic concepts such as how to mix water and paint to achieve proper water ratios and beginning florals is suggested. Advanced beginners (those with a 6+ months or more experience) and intermediate students will find the material suitable for their skillsets.

With that in mind, let's begin!

SUPPLIES

PAPER:

Canson 140 lb. cold press paper

Arches 140 lb. hot press paper

BRUSHES:

Princeton Umbria Filbert Brush Size 6

Princeton Heritage Filbert Brush Size 4 (2)

Princeton Heritage Round Brush Size 6

Princeton Heritage Round Size 3 (2)

PAINTS: acceptable brands are Winsor and Newton (Cotman or Professional), Van Gough, Maimeri Blu, Sennelier, Daniel Smith, Holbein.

Daniel Smith:

Aureolin (Cobalt Yellow PY 40) Hansa Yellow Deep (PY 65), Undersea Green (PB 29), Jane's Black

Maimeri Blu:

Naples Yellow, Pyrole Orange, Rose Lake

Winsor & Newton:

Permanent White Gouache

Additional Supplies:

Paper towel, palette/plate, water cup, iPad for reference images

Intro:

Welcoming you to class and talking briefly about what you will learn today.

Supplies:

Discussing the supplies you will need to complete this class.

Studying Reference Images:

We'll begin our time together by observing live flowers along with a few reference images to stir inspiration and make notes about what we see.

Sketching With The Paint Brush:

Next, we'll spend a few moments together sketching the outline of the daffodil with a paint brush to help us better understand flower shape and petal posture. This step will build confidence into you prior to tackling the flowers.

Super Loose Daffodil (Yellow and Orange):

We will mix our first combination of colors and explore super loose structure. Timing will be the most important component to mastering this technique. By preloading brushes this will allow you to move seamlessly through the steps.

Light Structure Daffodil (Yellow and Orange):

In this lesson I will show you how to time the steps to provide a bit more structure to the daffodil and how by adding thoughtful details we can aim to add interest without overworking the flower.

Structured Daffodil (Yellow and Orange):

Having covered structure in the previous video, we will now aim to create the most structured of daffodils, using layers of paint, and allowing the media to fully dry before adding key details.

Super Loose Daffodil (Yellow and White):

We will mix our second combination of colors and explore super loose structure using this new palette. Timing will be the most important component to mastering this technique. By preloading brushes this will allow you to move seamlessly through the steps.

Light Structure Daffodil (Yellow and White):

In this lesson I will show you how to time the steps to provide a bit more structure to the daffodil and how by adding thoughtful details we can aim to add interest without overworking the flower. We'll finish off the flower by adding stems and leaves.

Painting The Daffodil Extravaganza:

Using one of my favorite floral reference books "A Year in Flowers" I will introduce you to a new variety of daffodil. Using a new color combination we will learn how to paint it using gestural technique.

Christina Williams

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