Laure Paillex - Fresh and Fabulous Flowers in Acrylic: 20 Garden Fresh Floral Designs

FRESH AND FABULOUS

Flowers

IN ACRYLICS

Laur Paillex

www.artistsnetwork.com

Fresh and Fabulous Flowers in Acrylics. Copyright 2008 by Laur Paillex. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or direct from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Paillex, Laure
Fresh and fabulous flowers in acrylics / Laur Paillex.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58180-976-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60061-645-7 (EPUB)
1. Flowers in art. 2. Acrylic painting--Technique. I. Title.
ND1400.P33 2008
751.426--dc22

2007030781

Edited by Jacqueline Musser
Designed by Clare Finney
Production coordinated by Greg Nock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laur Paillex has enjoyed drawing and painting all her life. As a child, her love for decorative art was inspired by the Peter Hunt folk art designs painted by her mother. Although largely self-taught, she has developed her skills through independent study, diverse art courses and associations with other professional artists. She has taught decorative painting for more than thirty years and has authored or contributed to twelve instruction books, several video lessons and numerous pattern packets. Her work is regularly featured in popular decorative painting magazines and has been licensed for the gift market.

Laur is a business member of the Society of Decorative Painters and a member of the Graphic Artists Guild. She currently exhibits and teaches at locations around the U.S. and internationally as well as at her home studio, Cranberry Painter Decorative Arts. She and her husband, Andre, enjoy life in their antique farmhouse with saltwater and nature views of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Artist Contact Information
Laur Paillex
P.O. Box 1495
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-1495
Web Address: www.LaureArt.com

Metric Conversion Chart

To my husband, Andre,
and sons, Mick and Andy,
the loves in my life
who still bring me flowers.

Acknowledgments
My deepest appreciation and thanks to editors Kathy Kipp and Jacqueline Musser and the North Light team for their guidance, encouragement and talents in helping bring the seeds of an idea into full blossom.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STEP-BY-STEP PROJECTS

Introduction

Flowers are the poetry of earth.

SAMUEL COLERIDGE

My husband brings me flowers. Years ago, when we were courting, he would arrive at my door with a single sweet rose. Today, these tokens of his affection have blossomed into splendid bouquets for special occasions. Since life began in that first Garden, flowers have been praised in verse and song and immortalized by the artists brush. Nothing communicates as sweetly, as colorfully, as sincerely, as flowers.

The studies in this book are designed to help you visualize just a few of the unlimited possibilities for arranging and rendering your favorite floral subjects. I encourage you to give yourself freedom to rearrange, alter or substitute any of the design elements, or to use your favorite medium or technique. Gather a collection of resource materials to use as inspiration files to help you generate ideas, and keep a sketchbook in which to play with composition and color possibilities. Set up a still life with blossoms plucked from your garden or gathered from a nearby field. Better yet, why not treat yourself to a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers? It just might prompt memories of a long-ago romance still blooming sweetly after all these years.

MATERIALS

PAINTS
I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paints for the illustrations in this book (www.decoart.com). These are nontoxic, water-based acrylic paints sold in 2-ounce (60 ml) bottles. Shake the bottles well before using to make sure the binder is mixed with the pigments.

Acrylic paints can be thinned with water for strokework, linework or washes of color. There are several mediums available for thinning, blending and extending the drying time of the paint. You may wish to experiment with them. My favorite mediums are DecoArt Easy Float, used as a water conditioner, and a mixture of Easy Float and DecoArt Faux Glazing Medium, for use as a general painting medium. Follow the manufacturers directions on the product label for uses and techniques. Acrylic paints and mediums are available at art and craft supply stores.

BRUSHES
The brushes used in this book are from Loew-Cornell, Inc., (www.loew-cornell.com).

High-quality Golden Taklon synthetic brushes are designed for painting with acrylics. With proper care, these tools will ensure the quality of your work. Never let paint dry in the brush, and rinse the brush often during your painting session. Clean thoroughly with a good brush cleanser, rinse well, and return the bristles to their original shape when youre finished painting.