Blending gel is not strictly necessary, but applying it as an undercoat will keep the paint wet for a longer period of time. Use the same paintbrush for the entire rose. The correct size is between 6 and 8, which is printed on the brush’s handle. Clean the brush in water before using it to paint.
The color you use in this step will be the color of the finished rose. For example, use red for a red rose, pink for a pink rose, or yellow for a yellow rose. Use a wide brush to fill in the circle if you wish. Choose a shade that is slightly darker than the rose’s primary color.
If you don’t have a palette to work with, blend the colors on a scrap piece of paper. Repeat dipping and stroking the brush as needed to coat it, but make sure you have 2 distinct colors on it before you paint. If you are working with the same brush you used to make the circle, be sure to clean the brush in water first.
Press firmly as you paint to apply the colors evenly. Load your brush and blend the colors again if needed. Overlap the strokes slightly. Avoid leaving blank space between them. The length of the stroke you use changes the overall appearance of the rose. For example, making the strokes wavy causes the petals to look more uneven and natural. [5] X Expert Source Jeanine Hattas WilsonProfessional Painter Expert Interview. 11 May 2021.
When this is done correctly, you will be able to see the main color of the previous layer. It will be partially visible above the white edge of the inner layer of petals. The curves do not need to spaced or sized evenly. Make them wavy like the outer petals by moving your brush up and down as you paint.
Load your brush with the rose’s color and white like you did for the other petals. These curves might be slightly larger than the rest of the curves. To create thin lines, hold the brush more vertically instead of allowing the bristles to lay flat against the paper.
To make the stroke more detailed, paint a wavy line. Begin the line with the brush upright, then flatten it as you move to the side. Wiggle the brush up and down slightly to create a shape like a scallop shell.
When completing these U-shaped strokes, start with the tip or chiseled edge of the brush, then position the brush so it is flat horizontally as you drag it down. The third layer may not be necessary, but it adds more depth to your rose if you have the space for it. Evaluate the way your rose looks to determine whether or not to include it.
These petals are generally very thin and curve around the U-shaped stroke you made earlier. Add small petals on the outside of the rose or in other areas. Use a smaller brush as needed to finish your design.
Add additional details as needed. For example, dab gold paint onto the rose’s center to detail pollen. Alternatively, double load your brush with light and dark green paint, then use it to add leaves.
For example, use a very light pink if you wish to make a pink rose. The light shade will provide a base, but you will end up painting over most of it with darker shades.
Another way to do this is by pencil. If you’re good at sketching, forgo the paint circle and draw the petals. Then, follow up with a light coat of paint to give them definition.
Apply the darker paint in curves along the petal lumps in your outline. Try placing tighter curves along the rose’s upper edge and looser curves along the lower edge. Try placing each curve of dark paint at a slightly different level so their tails do not connect. You will be able to see the basic outline of each petal forming from the contrasting shades.
As a general rule, fill ⅔ of the rose with short curves similar to the uppermost ones. Fill in the remaining ⅓ with longer curves like the lower ones. Note that the curves need to gradually become tighter as you get nearer to the center of the rose.
The white paint is used to mimic light falling on the petals. It also contrasts against the primary color, giving your rose more definition.
The spiral usually curves upwards in most roses, but depending on how you painted the surrounding petals, you can change its direction.
This step can be difficult and it isn’t necessary. If you like your rose as it is, leave it alone. Adding too much paint covers up the rose’s details.
