Introduction

Welcome to the Piping Flowers painting session. In this tutorial, we'll create a vibrant, three-dimensional floral composition using piping techniques. You'll learn to use various piping tips to craft different flower and leaf shapes, building layers of texture and color. This project combines painting and sculpting skills, allowing you to create a unique piece that quite literally pops off.

Materials

• 9 x 12 x 1.5 in Wood Panel
• 2x 32 oz Titanium White Heavy Texture
• 2 oz Naphthol Red
• 2 oz Diarylide Yellow
• 2 oz Phthalo Blue
• 2 oz Permanent Green
• 1 oz White Base Coat
• 2022 Spade Palette Knife
• 1 in Panel Brush
• 5x 16 inch Piping bags
• 123 Petal Tip
• 353 Leaf Tip
• Quintuple Tip
• 402 Ruffle Tip
• Disposable Palette

Step 1: Prepare Your Wood Panel

Pour about half of the White Base Coat onto the panel. Add a small amount of Diarylide Yellow to slightly tint the base. Apply the mixture to the entire panel, including the sides.

Tip: Apply thick brush strokes to get rough coverage across all surfaces in one coat.

Step 2: Create a Background Gradient

Mix a small amount of Permanent Green with the base coat. Apply this mixture to the bottom of the panel, feathering it upwards. Blend carefully to create a subtle gradient effect.

Tip: Use very light pressure when feathering the green upward. It will create a subtle effect.

Step 3: Prepare Your Piping Bags

Align the seams correctly and insert each piping tip into a separate bag. Cut the bags, leaving about a millimeter from the base of each tip. Create a collar on each bag for easier handling when filling.

Tip: You can always cut more, but you can't take it back if you cut too much.

Step 4: Create Green Mixture for Leaves

Mix Permanent Green, Diarylide Yellow, and White Heavy Texture on your palette. Adjust the ratios to achieve your desired shade of green. Line the bag with the 353 Leaf Tip with the green mixture. Fill the bag about 2/3 full with White Heavy Texture.

Tip: This technique lets the green show through the white, creating variegated leaves.

Step 5: Pipe Leaf Border

Practice on your palette first to get a feel for the pressure needed. Create a border of leaves around the edge of your canvas. Vary the size and direction of the leaves for a natural look. Continue adding leaves to create a framework for your composition.

Tip: Make sure the pointy top end of the leaf tip is facing you as you pipe.

Step 6: Prepare and Pipe Pink Flowers

Mix Naphthol Red, White Heavy Texture, and a touch of Diarylide Yellow for a pink shade. Fill the bag with the 402 Ruffle Tip, applying the color to only one side of the bag. Fill the rest of the bag with White Heavy Texture. Pipe flowers starting from the center and working outwards, pulling upwards as you go. Create several pink flowers in different areas of your composition.

Tip: Use short bursts of energy when piping to create stiff, well-formed petals.

Step 7: Create and Pipe Blue Flowers

Mix Phthalo Blue with White Heavy Texture to create your desired shade of blue. Make a gradient in the bag with the 123 Petal Tip. It should be dark blue on one edge, white on the other, and your mixed blue in the middle. Pipe blue flowers in a spiral pattern, starting from the center and working outwards. Overlap petals slightly to create a rose-like appearance.

Tip: Rotate your canvas if needed to maintain a comfortable piping angle.

Step 8: Add Yellow and Peach Flowers

Prepare two shades: one with Diarylide Yellow and another with a peach tone (Yellow + touch of Red). Fill the bag with the Quintuple Tip, alternating the two colors. Pipe these flowers by applying firm pressure and lifting straight up. Vary the pressure for different sizes and petal lengths.

Tip: Deep breath... Mean squeeze & lift to make 'em stand tall!

Step 9: Continue Building the Composition

Assess your composition and identify areas that need more flowers or leaves. Alternate between different flower types and colors to create balance and interest. Add leaves between flower clusters to fill gaps and create a lush appearance.

Tip: Let your intuition take over when filling in gaps. Alternate each bag style as you go.

Step 10: Refine and Balance

Step back to assess the composition. Add small accents of each color throughout to create balance. Use the leaf tip to add the final touches of greenery, filling any remaining gaps. Create small buds or partially opened flowers in spaces between larger blooms.

Tip: Feel free to accent your piece with small pops of texture. The final touches have a considerable impact.

Conclusion:

Congratulations on completing your Piping Flowers masterpiece! Here are some important care instructions to ensure your artwork lasts:

• Dry Time: Let your painting dry completely before you handle or display it. To speed up the drying process, use a plug-in fan with constant airflow for several hours. Heavy Texture elements may take up to 48 hours to dry, depending on their thickness.

• Display: Once dry, you can display your painting as is. Mark a level spot on your wall. Then, hang your painting by screwing it into the wall with two drywall screws, spaced at least 3 inches apart. This will secure the wood panel.

• Aftercare: If needed, use a damp, lint-free cloth to clean your painting with care. Avoid cleaning solutions, as they can damage the acrylic paint. You can use water instead.

• Tool Care: Clean your tools with soap and water right after you use them. Proper cleaning will extend the life of your brushes and palette knives.

• Paint Storage: Store your Acrylic Colors in a cool, dry place. Keep the lids sealed tightly to prevent the contents from drying out.

Remember, the unique 3D elements created with the Heavy Texture will retain their shape, giving your painting a stunning tactile quality that will last for years to come. Enjoy your beautiful, textured creation!