Lena Rivera
Flowers are a popular subject for artists, and lilies, with their distinctive shape, are a common choice. When painting lilies, it is important to study the real thing, noting the shape, form, and colour of the flower. This can be done by taking photos of lilies in the springtime or by sketching them. When painting abstract lilies, it is important to let go of control and allow the paint to blend, creating a wet and fluid look. Abstract lilies can be painted on a black canvas to create a dramatic effect, and the background can be left white or painted with an abstract watercolour design.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Acrylic paint, paper plate, string, toothpick, paper, tissue box |
| String length | 12-18 inches (30 to 40 cm) |
| Colours | Yellows, bright greens, pinks, reds, blues, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, cadmium red |
| Techniques | Paint the canvas black, use a flat brush, sweep the brush from the centre of the flower outward, use a detailing brush, mix colours |
| Other | Use two hard canvasses instead of paper, use water-soluble graphite pencils, work wet on wet, add more water with a spray bottle |
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What You'll Learn
Paint the canvas black
To paint abstract lilies with a string, you can use the string pull painting technique. This involves coating a string in paint and then pulling it across a canvas to create a unique pattern. If you want to paint abstract lilies with a black background using this technique, you will need to start by painting the canvas black.
To paint the canvas black, you will need a black canvas or black paint, such as mars black paint, and a flat brush. If you don't have a black canvas, you can create your own by applying two coats of black paint to a regular canvas. It is recommended to use a 3/4" flat brush and allow the first layer of paint to dry completely before applying the second layer. Horizontal, back-and-forth strokes can help achieve a streak-free application.
Once your canvas is black, you can begin creating your abstract lilies using the string pull technique. Cut a piece of string, approximately 12-18 inches (30 to 40 cm) long, and place it into the paint of your choice. You can use a toothpick or a craft stick to ensure the string is fully coated. Carefully lift the string out of the paint and lay it in a random swirly pattern on your canvas, leaving a clean tail of string over the edge.
Place a piece of paper or loose leaf paper over the string and apply gentle pressure with your palm or a book. With your other hand, slowly pull the string out from under the paper. Lift the paper gently to reveal your unique string pull design. You can experiment with different colours, loops, and swirls to create abstract lily shapes on your black canvas.
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Paint the outer petals white
Painting abstract lilies with a string is a fun art project with stunning results. This technique does not require much skill and is suitable for all ages. To paint the outer petals white, follow these steps:
Begin by preparing your workspace and materials. You will need a canvas, white paint, a 1/4" flat brush, and a smaller detailing brush. It is important to have a steady hand when painting the petals, so ensure your workspace is stable and comfortable. Before you start, you may want to sketch out the lily shape on the canvas lightly in pencil to guide your painting.
Load your 1/4" flat brush with white paint. Starting with the outer petals, carefully paint three petals of the lily flower. It is important to work quickly, as the next step should be done before the paint dries completely. This technique will help create a cohesive and blended look to your lily.
Using the same white paint and brush, paint the inner three petals of the lily. You may need to reload your brush with paint, ensuring you have enough to cover the inner petals adequately. The inner petals may be narrower, so take your time and carefully follow the shape of the lily.
Once you have painted the inner petals, use the smaller detailing brush to add a thin white border around them. This step will help to highlight the inner petals and give them a three-dimensional effect. Take your time with this step, as you want to ensure the border is thin and delicate.
Finally, allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to any other colors or details. This will ensure that the colors do not blend unintentionally and that your lily's petals remain crisp and defined. You can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process if needed, but be careful not to smudge the paint.
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Mix the perfect pink
To paint abstract lilies with a string, you can try the string pull art technique. Cut a piece of string and place it into some acrylic paint. Coat the string with the paint using a toothpick, then carefully pull it out and lay it onto a piece of paper. You can create a mirror image by placing another piece of paper on top and gently pressing down before slowly pulling the string out.
Now, to mix the perfect pink for your lilies, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, pink is made by mixing red and white paint. The type of red and white paint you use will determine the shade of pink you create. For instance, using cadmium red will produce a slightly orangey pink, while scarlet lake will make a very bright pink. Alizarin crimson will give you brilliant pinks with hints of blue and purple, and quinacridone red will result in a very bright pink. If you want a more muted pink, try using an earthy red like Venetian red as your base.
The type of white paint you use will also affect the shade of pink. Titanium white will create an opaque, bright pink, whereas zinc white will produce a softer, more translucent pink. If you want to create a pastel pink, start with a light red like pyrrole red and add white until you reach the desired shade. You can add a touch of yellow for a warmer pastel pink or a hint of blue or violet for a cooler tone.
Additionally, you can adjust the warmth or coolness of your pink by adding small amounts of complementary colours. To make your pink warmer, add a touch of cadmium orange or cadmium yellow. For cooler pinks, mix in some blue or violet. Earthy pinks can be achieved by introducing a tiny amount of raw sienna or burnt umber.
Finally, remember that the lightfastness of pink colours depends on the pigments used to create the base red. Lightfastness refers to how well a colour resists fading over time. Cadmium red, for example, is highly lightfast and durable, making it a good choice for pinks that won't fade. On the other hand, Alizarin Crimson has low lightfastness and tends to fade unless you opt for a permanent version.
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Paint the lily's inner petals pink
Painting abstract lilies with a string involves a simple string art technique. You can use acrylic paint for this project. To paint the inner petals of the lily pink, follow these steps:
First, mix your stargazer lily pink paint by combining two parts fluorescent pink paint with one part cadmium red. You can also use a mix of GO Quinacridone Magenta and Titanium White for a different shade of pink. Now, take your 1/4" flat brush and dip the chiseled edge into the pink paint mixture. Make sure to wipe off the excess paint, as you don't want too much on the brush.
Starting from the centre of the flower, sweep the brush outward to the tip of each petal, painting the inner part of each lily petal. Ensure that you leave a border of white around the petal. Repeat this process for all the inner petals.
Once the pink paint is dry, you can add some additional details. Dip the chiseled edge of your brush into some white paint. Starting from the tip of each petal, sweep some white paint over the pink until you reach about halfway on the petal. This technique will add a beautiful, subtle dimension to your lily.
You can further enhance the centre of your lily by painting a thin red line down each petal and bud with a small detailing brush and pure cadmium red paint. Add tiny dots of the same red paint, focusing most of them in the centre of the flower, gradually lessening towards the centre of the petals.
By following these steps, you can create stunning pink inner petals for your abstract lily painting.
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Add dots and lines with red paint
Painting lilies can be an easy and rewarding process, and you can achieve stunning results with a bit of practice. To add dots and lines with red paint to your abstract lily painting, follow these steps:
Preparing the Canvas and Paint
Before you begin painting, it's important to prepare your canvas and paint. If you're using a canvas, consider painting it black to create a dramatic effect and elevate your lily painting to another level. You can use a 3/4" flat brush and mars black paint for this step. If you're painting on silk, place your lily template under the stretched silk and use an auto-fade pen to trace the design. For the paint, you'll need pure cadmium red paint and your smallest detailing brush.
Adding Dots and Lines
Once you have your canvas and paint ready, it's time to add the dots and lines to your lily painting:
- Load your smallest detailing brush with the pure cadmium red paint.
- Paint a thin red line down each flower petal and bud. Focus on creating natural, flowing curves rather than heavy straight lines.
- With the same red paint and brush, add tiny dots to the lily petals. Concentrate most of the dots in the centre of the flower, gradually decreasing towards the centre of each petal.
- Allow the red paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Adding these dots and lines with red paint will enhance the details of your abstract lily painting, making it more lifelike and visually appealing. Remember to take your time, as painting the centre of the flower is crucial to creating a beautiful lily painting.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need acrylic paint colours, a paper plate, a piece of string, a toothpick, paper or canvas, and a tissue box or book.
Add an inch or so of acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Cut a 12-18 inch piece of string and place it into the paint. Coat the string with paint using a toothpick and carefully lift it out of the paint.
Lay the string onto one half of the paper or canvas, leaving an area where the string overlaps and loops. Place the other piece of paper onto the painted string and press down gently. Place a tissue box or book on top and slowly pull the string out.
Slowly separate the two pieces of paper or canvas. You will have a mirror image on the other piece of paper. Allow the painting to air dry.
