Color Wheel Art | Leaf Color Wheel

Color Wheel Art | Leaf Color Wheel

Posted by DecoArt on Aug 18th 2021

Color, it’s what inspires us! This leaf project flows seamlessly around the color wheel. It’s an easy project to paint and will be a lovely addition to any wall in your home. DecoArt Americana paints are a rich bodied, affordable acrylic paint with beautiful color.

SUPPLIES

    • water container
    • palette or plastic plate
    • paper towels
    • tracing paper
    • transfer paper
    • #6 flat brush
    • #10 flat brush
    • #8 flat brush
    • #10/0 liner brush
    • palette knife
    • #14 flat brush
    • 12 x 12 canvas
    • 1" flat brush

    INSTRUCTIONS

    NOTES:

    Read the downloadable, printable instructions completely before beginning this project.

    1. Prepare the Background: Use a Palette knife and spread White Gesso over the canvas. Spread the gesso with the flat of the palette knife like you would spread butter on bread, let dry. Side load a 1” wash brush with Driftwood on one side and Sand Grey on the other side. Slip slap on the canvas careful to not over blend. Let dry
    2. Instruction #1
    3. Transfer the Design: Carefully trace the design onto tracing paper. Be sure and number the petals. Position traced design onto the surface, checking that it is centered evenly. Using dark transfer paper and the stylus, trace the design onto you surface.
    4. Instruction #2
    5. Basecoat the leaves as follows: 1 Primary Yellow 2 Irish Moss Green 3 Festive Green 4 Peacock Teal 5 Primary Blue 6 Primary Blue and Red Violet mix 1:3 7 Dioxazine Purple 8 Red Violet and True Red mix 5:1 9 True Red 10 Scarlet 11 Orange Flame 12 Tangerine
    6. Leaf #1 Primary Yellow: The tip is towards the green leaves; the base is towards the orange leaves. Side load a 14 flat with Orange Flame and shade the bottom of the leaf. Walk it out, fading into the center. Let dry. Side load a 10 flat with True Red and float color about halfway up the Orange section. Side load a 14 flat with Irish Moss; blend this out on your palette so most of the paint is gone. Tint the very tip.
    7. Instruction #4
    8. Leaf #2 Irish Moss Green, Side load a 10 flat with Fiesta Green and shade the bottom of the leaf. Let dry. Side load a 10 flat with Primary Yellow blend this out on your palette so most of the paint is gone tint the tip of the leaf with this. Load a liner with festive green and paint in the vein lines.
    9. Instruction #5
    10. Leaf #3: Side load a 10 flat with Primary Blue and Fiesta Green mixed 1:1 and shade the side of the leaf closest to the blue leaves. Let dry. Side load an 8 flat with Peacock Teal and repeat on the tip of the shaded side. Side load a 10 flat with Primary Yellow blend this out on your palette so most of the paint is gone, tint the outer side of the leaf with this. Load a liner with the shade mix and paint in some vein lines
    11. Instruction #6
    12. Leaf #4 Peacock Teal: Load a 10 flat with Primary Blue and shade the base of the leaf. Load a liner with Primary Blue and paint in the vein line.
    13. Instruction #7
    14. Leaf #5 Primary Blue: Side load a 14 flat with Peacock Teal and high light the bottom of the leaf. Let dry. Load a liner brush with Primary Blue and paint in the vein lines.
    15. Instruction #8
    16. Leaf #6 Primary Blue and Red Violet mix 1:3 Load a 10 flat with Primary Blue and shade the base of the leaf. Mix Primary Blue and Sand Grey 4:1 blend this out on your palette and tint the upper side of the leaf.
    17. Instruction #9
    18. Leaf #7 Dioxazine Purple : Load a 10 flat with Primary Blue and shade the base of the leaf. Mix Dioxazine Purple and Sand Grey blend this out on your palette and tint the uper side of the leaf .
    19. Instruction #10
    20. Leaf #8 Red Violet and True Red mix 5:1. Load a 10 flat with a mix of Dioxazine Purple and Red Violet 1:1. Shade the base of the leaf, blend this up the vein using the chisel edge of the brush.
    21. Instruction #11
    22. Leaf # 9 True Red: The tip is towards the yellow leaves; the base is towards the blue leaves. Side load a 14 flat with True Red and Primary Blue mixed 2:1 and shade the bottom of the leaf. (Shade Mix) Let dry Side load a 14 flat with Primary Yellow and highlight the tip of the leaf. Load a liner with the shade mix and paint in the vein line
    23. Instruction #12
    24. Leaf #10 Scarlet: Load a 10 flat with True Red and shade the side of the leaf towards the red leaf. Load a 10 flat with Primary Yellow and highlight the outer side of the leaf
    25. Instruction #13
    26. Leaf #11: Load a 10 flat with True Red and shade the bottom of the leaf. Load a 10 flat with Primary Yellow and highlight the tip of the leaf.
    27. Instruction #14
    28. Leaf #12: Load a 10 flat with Orange Flame and shade the base of the leaf. Load a 10 flat with Primary Yellow and highlight the tip of the leaf.
    29. Instruction #15
    30. Using the liner brush and slightly water thinned paint, remember to sign your painting! Let it dry for several day and then varnish with Americana DuraClear Matte Varnish.
    31. Instruction #16
    32. Hang your painting and enjoy!
    33. Instruction #17

    DOWNLOADS

    Leaf Color Wheel Instructions
    Leaf Color Wheel Pattern