How to Paint One Stroke Geraniums with Donna Dewberry
Geraniums have flower "heads", which feature clusters of brilliantly colored, small blooms. The flowers bloom in many different colors, from pale pink and white to brilliant orange, yellow, red, and salmon. Keep reading to learn how to paint geraniums using the One Stroke method developed by artist and teacher Donna Dewberry. Use the links below to jump to the video walkthrough, supply list, as well as the individual parts of how to paint a geranium.
Video | Supplies | Stem | Leaves | Flower Petals
How to Paint a Geranium Stem
- Begin by double loading a 3/4” flat brush with Sap Green and Lime Green.
- While holding the brush vertically upright so that the handle is pointing to the ceiling, lightly touch the surface with the chisel edge of the brush.
- Using light pressure, begin to pull the stroke towards you leading with Sap Green.
- This motion will begin to create the geranium stem.
- When pulling the double loaded brush towards you to paint the geranium stem, give the stem some movement and paint a slightly curved stem rather than painting a straight stick.
- Keep the brush vertically upright while keeping the weight of your hand balanced on your extended little finger, which will allow you more freedom of movement.
- Next, paint the small stems leading to the geranium flower head while still using the same double-loaded brush. This time, lead with the Lime Green side of the brush. Simply touch the chisel edge of the brush at the top of the stem and pull out from the main stem to create shorter, curved stems.
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How to Paint a Geranium Leaf
- Create a “V” as a placeholder or mark where to begin and end the geranium leaf. To paint the “V” simply touch the surface with the chisel edge of your paint loaded brush.
- Next, paint the first layer of the geranium leaf using the wiggle stroke. Keeping Lime Green to the outside edge, touch and apply pressure to the surface, wiggle or “scrub” the surface in a clamshell shape being careful to start and stop on the “V” placeholder marks. Allow to dry.
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How to Paint Geranium Flower Petals
- Begin by double loading a No. 12 Flat brush with Apple Red and Berry Wine.
- Paint a series of four to five small irregularly shaped flower petals while keeping Berry Wine to the center of the cluster of flower petals. Note that this petal stroke is similar to the five-petal flower stroke.
- Continue adding flower petals in clusters or groups of four or five.
- Reload the brush when needed.
- Remember to keep Berry Wine to the flower center and Apple Red to the outside edge of each flower petal.
- For variety, allow each individual flower to slightly overlap the one beside it.
- Continue adding flowers at the tips of the small green stems.
- Complete all the back flower clusters.
- Double load the same No. 12 Flat brush with Apple Red and Pure Orange.
- Paint a few more flower petals over the existing ones. This time, keep Pure Orange to the outside edge to help distinguish the layers of petals and small flower clusters.
- Now switch to a No. 2 Script Liner Brush. Load the brush with Sap Green and Lime Green.
- Begin adding a few green comma strokes at the base of the flower head (at the top of the main stem) as shown.
- Continue painting a few more flower buds using the same brush.
- Still working with the No. 2 Script liner brush loaded with Sap Green and Lime Green, paint a few long comma strokes along the main flower stem.
- Accent the tip of the comma stroke with Apple Red creating a small flower bud.
- Load the No. 2 Script liner brush with Lime Green and paint a few dots in the center of each geranium flower cluster.
- Once the geranium leaf is dry, the center of each leaf is then accented with a touch of red.
- Double load a No. 12 Flat brush with Apple Red and Floating Medium.
- Accent the center of the leaf by painting a wiggle stroke keeping Apple Red to the outside of the stroke as shown.
- Your finished One Stroke geranium, complete with leaf and flower buds, should look similar to the one shown here.
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Watch Donna Dewberry Paint Geraniums
Purchase Supplies Needed to Paint Geraniums Using the One Stroke Method by Donna Dewberry
In addition to the Plaid supplies listed below, make sure you have a brush basin or container for water as well as paper towels on hand.
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FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Wicker White, 2 oz. - 2894
$1.99
New!
FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Pure Orange, 2 oz. - 2903
$1.99
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FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Apple Red, 2 oz. - 2901
$1.99
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FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Lime Green, 2 oz. - 2914
$1.99
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Folkart ® Brush Sets - Artist Variety Set, 10 pc. - 50536
$8.99
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FolkArt ® Mediums - Floating Medium, 2 oz. - 868
$2.99
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FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Berry Wine, 2 oz. - 2941
$1.99
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FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Sap Green, 2 oz. - 2985
$1.99
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