Love My Little Cottage

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Painting Hydrangeas in Acrylics

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painting hydrangeas in acrylics
6″ Terra Cotta Flower Pot

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standard white hydrangea mailbox
hydrangea painting on a 6 inch linen panel

It’s the perfect time of year for painting hydrangeas in acrylics. I sold hydrangea mailboxes in the craft shows of the 1990s, but have rarely painted them since. Why did I ignore this gorgeous spring flower for so long?

Painting to Promote Positivity

This week I decided to add encouraging words to my paintings. I’ve always wanted to embellish my art with positive words and phrases, but was afraid that doing so would limit my work’s selling potential. It was time to put my doubts aside and just go for it!

Dream- a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

Have you ever had a dream? I don’t know if my dreams are completely fleshed out in my mind, but I know they include painting and writing. Putting words on my work is a way to uplift others and include my love of writing in my paintings. Hydrangeas are puffy like clouds and the color blue is dreamy. It was a perfect match.

materials for painting hydrangeas in acrylics
materials needed
This pattern is owned by Love my Little Cottage and is included for your personal use only- not for commercial use or sharing in other places on the internet. You can print a copy with the link in the supply list below.
  • 6″ flower pot, standard white mailbox, 6″ linen panel
  • paints- Red, Blue, Black, White, and several shades of Green
  • brushes- 1/4 angle, liner brush
  • Liquitex varnish and a foam brush for application- optional, but highly encouraged
  • I didn’t use a pattern, but feel free to use the pattern above for tracing and shape guidance. Print it here.
  • graphite paper-for tracing words and the pattern above onto to your painting surface.

Directions for Painting Hydrangeas in Acrylics

First, make puffy cloud shapes for the base color of the hydrangea. Mix Red and Blue and White, then swish in with the 1/4″ angle brush.

Mix your Greens to the desired shade, then wiggle in the leaves with the 1/4″ angle brush. The flowers and leaves will need a few coats of paint. For the flower petals, vary the colors as you paint, and make series of four petaled flowers all over the base color.
Connect the flowers by painting a green vine with the liner brush. Make green squigglies with the same brush. Paint veins in the leaves with White and the liner brush. Sign your work with White and the liner brush. I like to paint my initials and the year.
Create Dream in Microsoft Word with #48 font and New Courier. Print the pattern, then trace Dream onto the desired surface with graphite paper, if desired. You can also freehand paint the letters. I do both, depending on the size of the project.

painting hydrangeas in acrylics
Fill in the letters with Black paint and the liner brush.

You’re all done! Wasn’t that easy? Thanks for coming along with me for Painting Hydrangeas in Acrylics.

Blessings,

Kristie

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Read Hey Spring Sign

Hey Spring Sign

Comments

  2. Joanne says

    Oh I just love hydrangeas! They can be tricky to paint though. This is a good tutorial. Thank you. Pinned.

    Reply

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