Welcome to the Van Gogh Sunflowers Texture Paint Kit tutorial. Van Gogh was famous for painting sunflowers wet-on-wet. Which produced thick, textured effects known as impasto painting. He liked to use a variety of paints, often applying them straight from the tube. Now you can recreate the energy and vibrancy of Van Gogh's famous sunflowers with a twist.

Materials

• 12 x 16 x 1.5 in Wood Panel
• 32 oz Titanium White Heavy Texture
• 2 oz Hansa Yellow
• 2 oz Alizarin Crimson
• 2 oz Phthalo Green
• 2 oz Raw Umber
• 1 oz White Base Coat
• 2022 Spade Palette Knife
• 1 in Panel Brush
• Disposable Palette

Step 1: Prepare Your Wood Panel

Pour about half of the White Base Coat onto the panel. Mix a small amount of Phthalo Green directly on the panel. Add a touch of Raw Umber to create an earthy green tone. Blend these colors across the entire panel, including the sides.

Tip: Mixing with a brush allows you to make adjustments on the fly and the artwork feels more expressive.

Step 2: Create the Background

Mix Hansa Yellow with a touch of Raw Umber to create a mustard yellow. Apply this color to the lower third of the panel for the table. Blend the edges where the green and yellow meet for a smooth transition.

Tip: Don't worry about perfect color matching. Paint with feeling and embrace the expressive nature of the style.

Step 3: Sketch the Composition

Use your brush to lightly mark the positions of the sunflowers and vase. Create a simple outline of the vase in the lower center of the panel. Mark 5-6 circles for the main sunflower heads across the top of the composition.

Tip: These markers will help guide your choices for the textured flowers and keep the composition cohesive.

Step 4: Mixing Yellow Heavy Texture

On your palette, mix Titanium White Heavy Texture with Hansa Yellow. Add a touch of Raw Umber for depth and warmth. Use your palette knife to apply thick dollops of this mixture for the main petals. Start with the outer petals and work your way inward, using sweeping motions.

Tip: Keep the bag of Heavy Texture taut with pressure for easier mixing and application.

Step 5: Begin the Sunflowers

Hold your palette knife with your thumb on top and two fingers below for flexibility. Scoop up a generous amount of paint onto the flat part of the knife, forming a smooth mound. To apply, hold the knife at a low angle, almost level with the panel. Gently touch the paint to the panel, then pull back quickly to create a petal shape. Begin with the outer petals and work your way in, repeating the motion to create multiple petals.

Tip: Practice the knife motion on your palette first to get comfortable with the technique.

Step 6: Create Flower Centers

Mix Raw Umber with a touch of Alizarin Crimson for a deep brown. Load a generous amount of this mixture onto your knife. Apply to the center of each flower using a swirling motion, starting from the middle and working outward. Use the edge of the knife to create texture by making small, quick strokes in various directions.

Step 7: Add Green Elements

Mix Phthalo Green with Titanium White Heavy Texture and a touch of Hansa Yellow. For leaves, load the knife with paint. Apply it with a similar technique to the petals, but pull the knife more. For stems, use the edge of the knife. Apply pressure at the start and gradually release as you pull downward. Vary the pressure and angle of the knife to create different textures and shapes in the foliage.

Step 8: Create the Vase

Mix Hansa Yellow with a touch of Alizarin Crimson and Raw Umber for a warm yellow. Apply this color to the vase outline using your brush or palette knife. Use the corners and edges of the brush to create finer lines for the vase details.

Step 9: Refine and Add Details

Go back to each flower and add highlights or shadows as needed. Use pure Hansa Yellow to add bright accents to some petals. Add small dots of Alizarin Crimson mixed with yellow for additional flower buds.

Tip: Don't hesitate when swiping your palette knife up or else it will flatten the texture. Be gentle yet swift with your movement.

Step 10: Create Background Texture

Mix your background green color with Titanium White Heavy Texture. Apply this mixture to the background using horizontal strokes with your palette knife. Vary the pressure to create an interesting, textured background.

Tip: Tilt the knife to varying degrees when painting to make your piece feel more dynamic.

Step 11: Final Touches

Step back and assess your painting. Add any final accents or adjustments to balance the composition. Use small amounts of pure color (yellow, green, or red) to add bright highlights where needed.

Tip: Accidents are your style. Even when you "mess up" with a few touches, something new may be revealed.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing your textured Van Gogh-inspired Sunflower painting! Here are some important care instructions:

1. Allow your painting to dry for about an hour on your workspace.
2. After an hour, put a fan on it for a couple of hours or overnight. This will expedite dry time and help preserve the integrity of raised areas.
3. Allow at least 48 hours of dry time before displaying on your wall.
4. No varnish, sealant, or finish is required. That's gaffrey paint for ya!

Remember, this piece is your unique interpretation inspired by Van Gogh. The textured elements you've created will give your painting a distinctive, three-dimensional quality that captures the essence of Van Gogh's expressive brushwork in a fresh, modern way. Enjoy your creation!