Prepare your colors by using brightly colored watercolor paints and a small pointed paint brush to create a few circles on a spare sheet of watercolor paper. Practice using different amounts of paint and water to achieve different shades of the same color. A fabric table runner in bold and unique fall colors was selected as the inspiration for our palette.
Use a small pointed brush to practice applying different degrees of pressue to create thin and thick lines. Be sure to use adequate water to help the paint flow.
Still on the spare sheet of watercolor paper, paint a thin line of green to create a stem. Apply shades of paint and water and press the brush flat on its side onto the paper to create "leaves". Paint leaves all up and down the stem.
Use various sizes of tapered brushes and experiment on your scrap paper to create "petals" and "leaves" by simply pressing and turning the brush in different angles. Again, be sure to use plenty of water, you won't mess up, it helps the paint flow.
Prep a second, blank sheet of watercolor paper. We will now create a sample menu. It's important not to skip the practice portion, as this will allow you to become familiar with the way the paint flows, and what patterns you can create using various paint brushes. Tapered brushes are the best choice for creating petals and leaves. Use a pencil to create a soft layout of your menu. Write the entire menu softly in pencil.
Load your small pointed brush with water and paint in the shade of your choice, and begin tracing your penciled in layout with paint. You will quickly perceive how much pressure to apply to get the look you like. (Using too large a brush will result in messy work.)
Once you have painted over all of your writing on the menu, allow the paint to dry thoroughly then use an eraser to remove any visible pencil lines.
Create a jointed flower petal by using a larger, tapered paint brush to make a quick "V' shape, as shown. The paint will not move beyond where you have placed the brush on the paper. Practice if you have trouble with this step on a separate sheet until you get the desired affect.
Turning the paper slighly, create a second petal next to the first, leaving plenty of white space between. The white space is as important as the color when you are working with watercolor paints. Create a third petal, turn the paper slightly, and continue until you have five petals that form a beautiful flower around a white center.
Use a smaller tapered brush to create small flowers in a different color. You can see from the image that these shapes are created by simply pressing the brush down onto the paper, and then rotating to create the next petal. Typically, flowers have about five petals.
Add thin vines using a sharp narrow brush. Then fill in by creating the leaves that you learned to make in the first steps of the project. Try mixing multiple colors together to create elegant and unique watercolor paint effects. Just a reminder, use plenty of water!
Allow the entire piece to dry, and use an eraser to go over any last pencil lines that you can see. By the time you reach this step, you should feel very comfortable moving on to a large sheet of Artistico Watercolor Paper. It's a full 22" x 30" and is ready for you to paint your masterpiece.
Repeat the entire process as described above, using your new skills to first sketch and then paint your menu onto the larger format paper.
Support your finished piece with a foam core poster board attached to the back. Display this stunning watercolor floral menu on an easel at a beautiful, seasonal Harvest Bridal Shower.
Be sure to check out my Floral Harvest Bridal Shower, Fall Sangria Recipe and Ceramic Pumpkin Jewelry Boxes.
Prepare your colors by using brightly colored watercolor paints and a small pointed paint brush to create a few circles on a spare sheet of watercolor paper. Practice using different amounts of paint and water to achieve different shades of the same color. A fabric table runner in bold and unique fall colors was selected as the inspiration for our palette.
Use a small pointed brush to practice applying different degrees of pressue to create thin and thick lines. Be sure to use adequate water to help the paint flow.
Still on the spare sheet of watercolor paper, paint a thin line of green to create a stem. Apply shades of paint and water and press the brush flat on its side onto the paper to create "leaves". Paint leaves all up and down the stem.
Use various sizes of tapered brushes and experiment on your scrap paper to create "petals" and "leaves" by simply pressing and turning the brush in different angles. Again, be sure to use plenty of water, you won't mess up, it helps the paint flow.
Prep a second, blank sheet of watercolor paper. We will now create a sample menu. It's important not to skip the practice portion, as this will allow you to become familiar with the way the paint flows, and what patterns you can create using various paint brushes. Tapered brushes are the best choice for creating petals and leaves. Use a pencil to create a soft layout of your menu. Write the entire menu softly in pencil.
Load your small pointed brush with water and paint in the shade of your choice, and begin tracing your penciled in layout with paint. You will quickly perceive how much pressure to apply to get the look you like. (Using too large a brush will result in messy work.)
Once you have painted over all of your writing on the menu, allow the paint to dry thoroughly then use an eraser to remove any visible pencil lines.
Create a jointed flower petal by using a larger, tapered paint brush to make a quick "V' shape, as shown. The paint will not move beyond where you have placed the brush on the paper. Practice if you have trouble with this step on a separate sheet until you get the desired affect.
Turning the paper slighly, create a second petal next to the first, leaving plenty of white space between. The white space is as important as the color when you are working with watercolor paints. Create a third petal, turn the paper slightly, and continue until you have five petals that form a beautiful flower around a white center.
Use a smaller tapered brush to create small flowers in a different color. You can see from the image that these shapes are created by simply pressing the brush down onto the paper, and then rotating to create the next petal. Typically, flowers have about five petals.
Add thin vines using a sharp narrow brush. Then fill in by creating the leaves that you learned to make in the first steps of the project. Try mixing multiple colors together to create elegant and unique watercolor paint effects. Just a reminder, use plenty of water!
Allow the entire piece to dry, and use an eraser to go over any last pencil lines that you can see. By the time you reach this step, you should feel very comfortable moving on to a large sheet of Artistico Watercolor Paper. It's a full 22" x 30" and is ready for you to paint your masterpiece.
Repeat the entire process as described above, using your new skills to first sketch and then paint your menu onto the larger format paper.
Support your finished piece with a foam core poster board attached to the back. Display this stunning watercolor floral menu on an easel at a beautiful, seasonal Harvest Bridal Shower.
Be sure to check out my Floral Harvest Bridal Shower, Fall Sangria Recipe and Ceramic Pumpkin Jewelry Boxes.
