Inspiration for this project, painted with Americana® Premium™ Acrylics, came from Debbie Cole's beautiful lilies growing in her backyard.

SUPPLIES

• water container
• palette or plastic plate
• paper towels
• transfer paper
• liner brush
• 12" x 12" canvas
• masking tape
• small round brush
• large flat brush
• grey graphite paper
• medium flat brush
• mushroom sponge

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

Enlarge the pattern to fit the surface.

1. Basecoat the entire canvas with White Gesso.
2. Using a large flat brush, apply Titanium White in the upper right corner. Brush-mix Titanium White with Warm Grey and slip-slap this color into the Titanium White, blending it outward. Pick up more of this mix and Dark Grey and continue blending this in the same manner, working it out toward the lower left corner where it is just Dark Grey. Allow to dry completely.
3. Lay the Mod Quatrefoil stencil over the canvas and tape into position. Load the mushroom sponge with Titanium White and apply over the areas in the right hand corner. As the values in the background change, pick up a little of the Warm Grey mixed with Titanium White and in the darkest areas moving to just Warm Grey. Allow to dry.

4. Transfer on the flower line drawing without the stamen or tendrils.
5. Flower: To create the purple value scale, begin by mixing equal amounts of Dioxazine Purple and Dark Grey. (This will be the darkest value used.) To this mix, add equal amounts of Titanium White plus a touch of Quinacridone Magenta. (This will be the mid-tone value.)
6. To create the first shade color, add more of the Dioxazine Purple/Dark Grey mix into the mid-tone color. To create the first highlight, add more Titanium White and a touch of Quinacridone Magenta to the mid-tone color. (See step-by-step photos.)
7. Working one petal at a time, apply the mid-tone color over about two thirds of the petal. Add the first highlight and blend. In the same manner, add the first shade and blend into the mid-tone color. Repeat this on all the petals. Allow to dry completely.

8. To create the second shades, add more of the dark purple mix into the first shade color. (The second highlight color is created by mixing more Titanium White plus a touch of Quinacridone Magenta into the first highlight color.) (See step-by-step photos.) Add the second shades and highlights covering a smaller area than the first.
9. Using water or the Extender Medium, blend the darkest purple mix into a flat brush until the color becomes transparent. Glaze the darkest areas of the flower with this transparent color. In the same manner, load Quinacridone Magenta into a large flat brush and add accents to all of the petals where the dark turns into the mid-tone area.
10. Using the tip of a small round brush, add freckles to the lower third of the petals with the dark purple mix. Allow to dry and transfer on the stamen lines.

11. Stem and Stamen: To create the green mid-tone, mix Yellow Green Light plus the dark purple mix in a 3:1 ratio. Add more of the purple mix into the mid-tone to create the shade color. To create the highlight color, add Titanium White plus Green Gold into the mid-tone color. (See step-by-step photos.)
12. Thin the mid-tone color with water and pull the stamen lines using a liner brush. Base in the mid-tone color to the stem and stroke in the highlights to both the stem and stamen. Allow to dry.
13. Side-load a flat brush and shade the stem and the stamen lines. Use the tip of a small round brush to tap in the top of the stamen using the darkest purple mix. Using a liner brush, tap the mid-tone on top as a highlight. Mix the darkest purple mix with water and line in the shadows for the stamen. Let dry completely.

14. Finishing: Spray on multiple thin coats of Matte Spray Finish to protect the painting.

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