How To Paint Simple Wildflowers

Hey guys!

Today I have a super easy painting tutorial for you all that will be fun for anyone, no matter your skill level. The simple wildflowers are an abstract Scarlet Gilia and can be adapted to fit on any size canvas or mixed media pad. 

SKIP TO THE VIDEO TUTORIAL

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If you have never painted before, this is a perfect acrylic painting tutorial to start with because there is no right or wrong! You will see that you can create a beautiful meadow of wildflowers with just a few supplies and easy painting techniques.

Creating the Background

If you use a large canvas as I did, don’t feel intimidated by all that space we need to cover! This is one of the easiest backgrounds to paint! The most important tip for painting any background is to have enough paint on your brush. Nine times out of ten, this is the first hurdle I see beginners experience.  

Load those brushes up! You want the paint to glide on the canvas. If you don’t have enough paint, it skips over the texture of the canvas and almost looks pixelated. 

You can use a large flat brush or a palette knife for this background, depending on the type of texture you like. 

I start by covering the canvas in turquoise and a bit of citron while using vertical and horizontal brush strokes to give texture. You can choose any colors you like but I love how these two colors look together.

You can use a large flat brush or a palette knife, depending on the type of texture you like. 

If you are using a palette knife instead of a large flat brush, you will need to add to the amount of paint on your canvas. Scoop up enough paint with your palette knife and lightly scrape the canvas in different directions.

Learn more about palette knife painting in my blog HERE.

No matter what tool you decide to use, don’t overwork your paint. In the video below, you can see that I skip around some and do not blend the two colors. If you go over the same area too much, the colors will become one solid color. We want to see those visible brushstrokes in all directions. 

Grass Blades

Next, I alternate dark green and dark blue paint with my round brush to make grass blades. I want my grass blades to go up about 1/4 from the bottom of my canvas. 

Again, make sure to use plenty of paint on your brush and redip frequently. Start on the bottom with heavier strokes for densely grown grasses.

Then, for the wispy tips on the blades, flick your wrist near the top. When you do this, your brush evenly pulls away from the canvas, creating a tapered end.

Don’t stress too much about the tops of the grass. Most of it will get covered with simple wildflower blooms.

Abstract Scarlet Gilia Wildflowers

Now is the fun part! Let loose and enjoy the process of creating! These simple wildflowers are so easy to do and are very abstract so try not to take them too seriously. 

We are basically going to make messy little blobs of red paint all over! 

Load the small round brush with red paint and smush down, making irregular dots. Don’t overthink the placement, or it will look like a pattern. Let the dots overlap and move quickly for a more organic arrangement. 

You only need one round brush to make all the variations in dot sizes in these simple wildflowers. I am using a small #2 round, but every company sizes a little differently. The amount of pressure you use is how you will make the size differences! The lighter you are, the smaller the mark will be.

We want the dots to be a little bigger and slightly spaced out near the bottom. Then, make the dots smaller and clustered together while tapering the overall shape inward as you work your way up. 

I like having red mixed with purple and don’t mind some of the background poking through in some areas. You can decide if you need to add another layer of red paint. Play with your colors and layers to see what you like.

Make your way across the canvas painting your simple wildflower blooms in all shapes. Some can be curved, wavy, or straight up.

Finishing Details

To add more details in your abstract Scarlet Gilia blooms, layer in some purple and dark blue paint to the insides of the red dots to make burgundy and plums. Pink and corals would be so pretty too! No flower is ever the same as another, so don’t try to make them all match.

Next, flip your brush around and dip the end of the handle into some yellow paint. Then, dot it all around where the grass meets the blooms. 

Watch Christie’s Full Simple Wildflowers Painting Tutorial

I don’t want anyone to be afraid of painting! It is too much fun to let fear get in the way. It’s so much more than just painting. The therapy being creative brings to your soul will change your life.  

Have fun playing with your colors, change it up, and make this painting uniquely yours with every layer! 

Learn more about my private painting group, Christie’s Inner Tribe!

I would love to see your simple wildflowers. Text “Hey Christie” to 417-217-7044 and show me what you are working on and share it in the Facebook Group!

Keep practicing and stay creative,