Photo Reference: https://unsplash.com/photos/purple-flower-GHrhTnINFZI
Hey everyone! Today, I wanted to share a fun and relaxing acrylic painting experience with you. I found a gorgeous photo of a purple lotus flower on Unsplash (which has tons of free photos, by the way!), and I knew I had to give it a try.
I started with a basic acrylic paint palette, mixing my own colors as I went. I mostly used Prussian Blue for a cool turquoise because it looked perfect next to the planned purples and reds of the flower. It was fun experimenting and coming up with new colors by mixing the primaries on my palette.
For the background, I used loose X or V-shaped brushstrokes, kind of like Bob Ross! I kept the background loose and expressive, letting the brushstrokes show. In the meantime, I was already loosely mapping out the location of the flower petals based on the photo reference.
After letting the background dry a bit, I moved on to the flower itself. I used dark to light layering for the petals, going in with a dark purple and gradually adding lighter and more blended colors. I wanted a lot of variation and a hint of abstraction or impressionism in the final piece.
Building up the flower involved a lot of layering. I went back and forth between the photo and my painting, adding purples, pinks, and even some reds to create depth. I also used some turquoise to refine the petal shapes and solidify the background. It was exciting to see the flower slowly come to life!
There wasn’t a huge focus on tiny details in this painting. Instead, I concentrated on capturing the basic shapes, colors, and values. I love how these elements can create a realistic feel even without getting too detailed.
Adding shadows and highlights was one of the most transformative parts of the process. It’s amazing how a few well-placed highlights can turn a blob into something recognizable! It really emphasizes the importance of learning about values, which can be applied to both painting with reference photos and creating art from your imagination.
This painting was such a joy to create, and it’s perfect practice for anyone who wants to improve their skills in painting from photos or using a loose and expressive style. The best part? You don’t need a ton of fancy supplies. Just a few brushes, your favorite colors (feel free to get creative!), and you’re good to go!
My finished painting turned out a little pinker than the original photo, but I love it!
If you feel inspired, grab your paints and try a similar project based on a photo you love. Happy creating!