Key patterns and motifs - Part 3 - Adding detail to botanical motifs

Key Patterns and Motifs - Part 3 - Adding Detail to Botanical Motifs

I'm now going to demonstrate how you can paint motifs that are slightly more botanical and detailed.

You Will Need:

• Something to practise on
• A selection of the smaller paintbrushes
• A selection of emulsion paints
• Paint palette
• 3 x water jars filled with water

In addition to the two I normally use, I will have a third if I am using white paint so as not to muddy it.

Leaf Motifs

1. Swedish-inspired scalloped leaf

First, paint a smooth curved line to form the top of the leaf. Create the underside by painting a scalloped line; the amount of scallops is up to you and may be dictated by the size of the leaf, but three is often a nice number. This can then be filled in.

2. Oak leaf

I always feel particularly inspired by the natural irregularity of oak leaves. To paint an oak leaf-inspired motif, first paint a central curved line. Use the wavy line technique to form the edges of the leaf, on either side of the central line. You can either leave it as an outline or fill it in.

3. Classic symmetrical leaf

Start by painting a small dash to create the tip of the leaf. Then, repeat the same small dashes fanning out from this in a row, curving round and down to create one side of the leaf. Do the same for the other side to complete the shape. You can add a stem and leave it as it is, or fill it in.

Adding Highlights and Lowlights

Painting additional detail on top of your motif in either a lighter tone or a darker tone can help to make it pop.

4. Feathered highlight or lowlight line

Hold your brush very lightly and loosely, and the motion you are doing is a flick of the wrist. Align the tip of the brush with a centrepoint or indent within your motif and brush quickly outwards along the edge of your painted shape.

Helpful Tips

• It's good to use a darker or lighter tone of the colour you have already used in the motif.
• Dark tones can be used to create lowlights or shadows within your motif. This can be the underside of a leaf or the indented parts of petals. You can also add details such as stem structure.
• Lighter tones create highlights and represent where the light might catch a flower or petal.
• It can also be really effective to use white as a highlight and black as a lowlight.
• Choose one side or part of your motif to add the highlights and lowlights, and repeat this across all of the same motifs in your design.