Art Project: Mixed Media Flower Doodles
By: Bev G
Tags: Drawing, Creativity, Doodle, Design, Art

Art Project: Mixed Media Flower Doodles

Own artwork ©Bev G

Relax and Create Pretty Flower Paintings

I really enjoy making these simple abstract flower paintings. This one was created primarily with pens and watercolor. It is such a relaxing activity — each stage is rewarding; you get to splash paint around, doodle, color-in and doodle some more. Come and share the creative process as I take you through step-by-step.

Flower Doodles: Materials

I don’t usually go in for using a ton of supplies in one painting but with this one I felt like using as many as I could — sometimes it’s fun to play and experiment with art materials. The paintings at the bottom of the page were created with just watercolor and pens.

Watercolor paper (140 lbs)

Stencils or random objects to use as masks

Diluted ink in spray bottles

Watercolor paint

Gesso

Fine liner pens (waterproof)

Scraps of paper

Watercolor pencils

White pen

Decorative chalks.

You don’t need all these supplies; paper, paint and pens will suffice. The example shown was created in an A4 140lb watercolour sketchbook.

Abstract Flower Background

This first stage is a lot of fun. I used two Crafters’ Workshop stencils, a plastic embroidery thingy, and a piece of protective plastic film that was stuck to my kid’s new laptop keyboard. You can use anything you can find around the house — things like elastic bands, plastic utensils, packaging, combs, scissors and the like.

I laid down the stencils in a pleasing arrangement and squirted them with diluted Liquitex Acrylic Ink. The reason I use acrylic is so that, once dry, the patterns stay where they are — they can’t be reactivated by adding water on top. People often wonder if they can use acrylics and watercolor together in the same piece of art… and the answer is a resounding yes! Make sure the acrylic is completely dry before going on with the next step. A heat gun or a hair-dryer can speed things up.

If you don’t have spray inks, then lay down a simple watercolor wash.

First steps in creating the background — stencils and diluted acrylic inks. Own artwork ©Bev G

Flower Painting Background — Watercolor

The next stage is to mix up three or four washes of watercolor. Choose colors that please — I like greens and yellows but couldn’t resist adding a touch of violet. Don’t ask me the correct colors… I have no idea! Be careful not to mix secondary colors, i.e. don’t put orange next to purple or brown next to green or you will have a horrible dirty, muddy color. If you must have these colors next to each other then let each one dry first.

Lay down the washes over the stencils. You’ll see that the acrylic inks remain undisturbed, although the colors will be affected by the layer of watercolor. Don’t you love the way they peek through?

I make a lot of backgrounds like this, sometimes I have several pieces of watercolor paper around me and work on them just like I described above. Once they are done and dried, I turn them over and do the other sides just the same. These backgrounds can be used for making my own art journals or as individual pieces of art for framing. The various drips, blobs and splodges add to the general effect.

Painting on a watercolor wash. Own artwork ©Bev G

Background after watercolor applied. Own artwork ©Bev G

Background — Ouch! Too Bright

I love how the picture above turned out once it had dried, but it’s much too bright for what I have in mind.

So what am I going to do with this? Well, one way to knock back the brightness is to add a layer of gesso.

Bright background ‘knocked back’ with an application of watery gesso.Own artwork ©Bev G

Gesso — I Couldn’t Create Without It!

Gesso is my go-to art supply. It is used for prepping surfaces ready to take paint, it can be sponged down through stencils to create a resist for watercolors, it can be used to cover up mistakes, or as in this case, it can be used to create a soft, misty effect that allows the background to show through.

I diluted the gesso about 50:50 with water and brushed it over the background. Where it looked a little too heavy, I used a paper towel to lift some off while it was still wet. Another technique is to let it dry and then gently rub it with sandpaper in patches for more delicious grunge. Make sure to shake off any dry gesso powder before you paint over it.

Abstract Flowers — Start Your Doodling

I chose to use a single word, “Serendipity”, as the focal point of the painting. It is exactly right for the way I make art. I try not to control things as I love to be surprised by the outcome. I have no real plan before I start other than a general idea that this will be a flower painting.

I used a pencil to outline the word and to make some flower tendrils. The large quarter circle in the top left corner will be a big bright flower. I am thinking that I will use collage for the petals, it will be a nice change to painting them. I cut some petals out of my favorite designer paper pad, K&Company’s gorgeous Que Sera Sera, and notice that they have left a really cool ‘stencil’ in the paper. I grab a bottle of green spray ink and whoosh it onto the bottom of the page. Serendipity in action!

Once I am happy with the general design, I go right over it with a black, water-resistant pen and erase any pencil marks that are visible. This is the skeleton of the painting.

Lettering and doodling. Own artwork ©Bev G

Flower Painting — Lettering

I love to add lettering to art work. A single word is enough to make an impact.

The pens I use most are Sakura Pigma Microns. I first bought them for creating Zentangles®, but now use them for everything. They are water-proof, dry quickly and long-lasting. The nibs stand up to punishment quite well and they come in different colors and nib sizes. Having said that, there are many cheaper alternatives around now — just make sure the ink is waterproof.

Go over the letters, adding more lines to each, in a very loose and almost scribbly way. I flare out the bottoms of letters and fatten up other parts. This creates little areas of negative space. In these spaces, I add simple patterns or color them in black, or, indeed leave them ‘open’ for coloring in later. Embellish lettering with little dots, squiggles and circles. There are no rules!

Coloring doodles and lettering with watercolor pencil. Own artwork ©Bev G

Watercolor Pencil Flowers

Now is the time to let your inner child come out to play. Coloring. You could use paint, if you like, and I usually do like. Watercolor pencils or markers are good too.

Color in the flowers, leaves and stems. Use several colors on the leaves to create a lovely effect. With a small brush, activate the pigment with water and see the painting come to life.

I painted the middle of the large flower with well-diluted Twinkling H2Os but any paint or pencil will do the job.

Can you see the original stenciled background still showing through the layers? Creating this way gives the piece depth and interest.

Doodles Revisited

This is an important stage — go back over the flowers, stems and leaves with your fine liner. Draw around them loosely and quickly. This gives the painting energy and a certain liveliness. Put veins or middles into the leaves. If you have any large gaps in the painting, now would be a good time to get some more doodle flowers in there.

At this point I glue on the collage petals of the big flower and go round them with a cheapie gold metallic marker. Looking at the finished painting, I wished I’d used a charcoal pencil instead. The lettering needs something… I decided to put some faint shadow behind the letters with a pale gray marker.

Collage petals and outlining the doodles. Own artwork ©Bev G

Abstract Flower Painting — Final Touches

Take a white pen and add highlights to your lettering and the flower doodles. This really makes the painting sparkle.

The painting needs some kind of border, so I go through some previous work and find an idea… I really love listening to music and drawing circles. The repetitiveness is like a meditation, so out come the fine liners and white pen again.

I’m pretty sure it’s done now but want to add some blushes of color. Soft pastels are good for this but I recently bought some decorative chalk on eBay. They are not expensive at all. The ones I have are applied with a tweezer-like tool and little cotton balls. The color is ever so subtle but is just what the painting needs.

And it is done.

“Serendipity” Own artwork ©Bev G

Simplified Process to Create Flower Doodles

Create a background with paint. Use stencils and spray ink, if you have them.

Doodle simple flower, leaf and stem shapes. Add a word should you wish.

Color in flowers and letters. Refine lettering.

Add more scribbly doodling.

Add collage elements (optional and can be added at any previous stage).

Highlight with a white pen.

Carry on adding to it until you are happy. And, of course, incorporate any other materials you wish.

Have fun!

Flower doodles created with watercolor background, markers, and pens. Bev G. © All rights reserved.

Flower doodles created with watercolor background, markers, and pens. Bev G. © All rights reserved.

Note: all images are produced and copyrighted by the author.

Originally published at HubPages.com