Autumn Sunflowers Watering Can

A friend of mine works as an activities director in a long term memory unit. She was given a budget and tasked with redorating a screened in-porch and outdoor sitting area. She found a vintage mauve watering can at a thrift store and asked me to paint sunflowers on it. I would never have thought to paint orange, yellow, and red flowers on a mauve background, but I loved the result and decided to paint an Autumn Sunflowers Watering Can for my ETSY store. You can watch the video below:

Materials for Autumn Sunflower Watering Can:

• new galvanized watering can or vintage watering can
• medium grade sandpaper
• vinegar
• Apple Barrel Paints- 20411E Cobalt Blue, 20401E Bright Red, 20403E White, 44845E Light Yellow, 20359E Pumpkin Orange, 21968E True Green, 44848E Milk Chocolate, 2608 Country Tan, 20404E Black (I did not use 21049E Pink Parfait)
• paint brushes- 1″ sponge brush, 1/8″ flat, liner brush
• Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover Clear Gloss Spray or Mod Podge Matte Clear Acrylic Sealer- Decide on either a gloss or matte finish.
• sunflower pattern- I printed a picture of felt sunflowers in black and white- get it here
• colored chalk
• pencil
• clear tape

Preparing the Surface:

Sand the galvanized bucket, then clean with vinegar.

For the new galvanized watering can, mix Bright Red, Cobalt Hue, and White to make the mauve basecoat. Paint the watering can with several coats of the dusty mauve mixture using the 1″ sponge brush.

*I used mostly Gloss and Multisurface paints in this project because the type of paint used on the vintage watering can’s basecoat was unknown. These Apple Barrel paints are more likely to stick to all surfaces without peeling. Paint the flower centers with Milk Chocolate. Basecoat the flowers with Light yellow + White, Pumpkin Orange + White, and Bright Red + White using the 1/8 flat brush. Shade with each flower’s primary color, then highlight with White using the 1/8 flat brush.

Fill in the leaves with True Green and highlight with White using the 1/8 flat brush. Paint the leaf veins with White and the liner brush. Paint your initials and the last two digits of the year with White and the liner brush. Make True Green, White, and Pumpkin Orange squigglies with the liner brush.

Paint the flower centers with Black and the 1/8″ flat brush. Paint seed hairs with Black and Country Tan using the liner brush. Make White highlights with the end of the liner brush and White.

Take the watering can outside and spray it with either gloss or matte spray. The matte spray was right for the vintage watering can because its basecoat was flat with no shine. Since I prefer a sheen to my acrylic projects, the gloss spray was perfect for the new watering can.

You’re all done! I hope you enjoyed my Autumn Sunflowers Watering Can tutorial!

Blessings,

Kristie

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