This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!
Hi friends! I am back with another project using my new Anemone Wreath stamp from the Simon Says Stamp To Love release. Because this stamp set is a bit larger scale, it works beautifully for home decor projects! I was able to create an 8×8 framed art piece to hang on the walls of my office with just the Anemone Wreath stamp, some papers, and my watercolors. Let’s get started on the details of my project!
*I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*
I began by stamping the Anemone Wreath stamp in the center of a 5.5″ x 5.5″ panel of Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper using Hero Arts Contour Ink, then taped the panel down to my watercolor board and began painting. I like to work in layers for watercoloring intricate pieces like this, preferring to build the color with individual layers rather than try to add multiple colors at once. I began with a layer of light amethyst purple, creating a light base layer with very pale color, utilizing lots of clean water to indicate highlights. For my second layer, I used a deeper shade of purple, taking advantage of the contrast of the highlighted edges of the petals on top to add shadows and depth. That contrast between the deeper shadows on the petals behind and the pale, highlighted edges of the petals on top helps to create the definition between the different petals and adds depth and dimension.
After I had finished adding color to the flowers, I used black watercolor to create the black flower centers, then used a fine tip black pen to create the delicate stamens around the flower centers. I also accented each stamen with a dot of white gel pen. Each individual layer works together to help make this super detailed painting a visual treat! After all of the flowers had dried, I painted the leaves using the same techniques, working in sections to keep the definition in each individual leaf. Working in sections ensures that the wet areas do not bleed into one another. Once the entire image had been painted, I added a very pale green halo around the wreath, utilizing lots of water to create that ethereal watercolor effect.
I allowed the painting to dry completely while still taped to the watercolor board, which helps to reduce warping. I trimmed down a panel of Simon Says Stamp’s Black Cardstock to 6″ x 6″ and mounted the painting in the center, creating a crisp black frame around the edges of the painting. It’s amazing how much more polished and professional-looking a simple watercolored pieces looks with a simple black frame around it! I mounted the piece in an 8″ x 8″ frame for some simple, elegant watercolor home decor, perfect to accent a mantel piece or to hang on a wall!
Well, that’s all for my project today! I have several pieces to share with you using products from the new To Love release, but I am not quite finished with Christmas projects, so those will have to wait a bit. I can’t believe Christmas is only four days away! Incredible how quickly this year has flown. Thanks so much for being here, and thanks for stopping by today! Have a marvelous day!
Wow!!!! Stunning!!!!!