Your project for this class is to create a stylized gouache plant illustration.

Welcome to your class project! Together, we’ll embark on a colorful journey to create a beautiful stylized plant illustration using the versatile medium of acrylic gouache. By the end of this project, you'll have a unique piece of art that showcases your personal touch.

Win One Year of Skillshare:

To celebrate the launch of this class (my 10th Skillshare class!) I'm giving away ONE YEAR of Skillshare to one lucky student!

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is:

Take this class.
Leave a written Review for the class before 30th January 2025
(Optional) Post your Class Project to the Project Gallery to double your chances of winning!

That's it!

The Giveaway closes on 30th of January 2025 at 11.59 pm EST and is open worldwide!

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the project:

Gather Your Supplies
- Acrylic gouache or traditional gouache.
- Paintbrushes (I’ll be using The Pigeon Letters studio brushes, watch the class for a special discount code just for you).
- 300gsm watercolor or acrylic paper.
- Pencil and eraser for sketching.
- Palette or plate for mixing colors.
- Jar of water, paper napkins, and optional masking tape for borders.
- Your reference image (download this from the 'Resources' section at the bottom of this page).
Prepare Your Workspace: Set up your painting area with all the necessary supplies. Make sure your reference image is easily visible, either on a screen or printed out.
Explore the Medium: Before diving into the project, get a feel for acrylic gouache. Experiment with paint consistency by following along with me.
Sketch Your Plant: Lightly sketch the outline of your plant on the paper using the reference image as a guide. Don’t worry about making it perfect; this is just a guide for your painting.
Start with the Background: Choose a base color for the background and apply it evenly. Feel free to experiment with colors that complement your plant.
Paint the Planter: Layer your base color on the planter, then add shadows and highlights for depth. Take your time to build up the layers for a rich, dimensional effect.
Bring the Plant to Life: Begin with the base layers of your plant’s leaves and stems. Gradually build up details, adding lighter and darker shades to create a dynamic, stylized look. Remember, this is a stylized illustration, so have fun with colors and shapes!
Optional Extra Challenge: In order to reinforce the techniques you learn in this class, pick a different houseplant image to use as reference image and create a brand new stylized illustration based on it, using everything you learn with me in this class.
Upload Your Project: Take a clear, well-lit photo of your finished illustration and upload it to the class project gallery to share with your fellow students. If you did the optional challenge, make sure you upload that too. Feel free to share any process images as well, we love seeing behind-the-scenes!
Ask for Feedback: If you’d like constructive feedback, be sure to mention it in your project description. Our community is here to support and help you grow!
Show Love to Fellow Students: Check out other students’ projects in the gallery and leave encouraging comments about their work. Let’s build a positive and inspiring community together!

Remember, this project is about enjoying the process as much as the result. Don’t stress about perfection—embrace your unique style and have fun! I’m here with you every step of the way, and I can’t wait to see your beautiful stylized plant illustrations in the gallery. Let’s get painting!

Selina

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