How to Paint One Stroke Hydrangeas with Donna Dewberry

• Begin by double loading a ¾" 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 to create three separate lines in the form of a "Y."

• Still using the same double loaded brush and keeping Lime Green to the outside, paint one half of the wiggle leaf. The key here is having enough paint in the brush and applying pressure while wiggling the stroke.
• Begin to release pressure and pivot the ¾" brush when stroking towards the tail of the "Y" placeholder mark.

• End the stroke on the chisel edge of the brush.
• Slightly pull the stroke to create the tip of the wiggle leaf.

• Repeat the same strokes, in reverse, on the second half of the wiggle leaf.
• Again end on the chisel edge of the brush joining the leaf tip.

• Still using the chisel edge of the double loaded ¾" flat brush, lead with Sap Green and pull a stem into the leaf. Stop approximately one-half to three-quarters into the body of the leaf.

• Continue working with the 3/4" Flat brush double loaded with Sap Green and Lime Green.
• Touch the surface and apply pressure while pulling the brush towards you. If the paint "skips," your brush is not fully loaded with paint. Stop and reload the brush with additional paint!

• At the end of the leaf, release pressure and lift to the chisel edge of the brush creating the leaf tip.
• Repeat for as many slider leaves as desired.

• For added interest, we'll add a fern stalk to the Hydrangea bouquet.
• Load a No. 10 or 12 Flat brush with Lime Green.
• Using the chisel edge of the brush, pull a slightly curved line as the stem of the fern.

• Begin at the tip of the stem. Paint a short One Stroke leaf. (Touch, apply pressure, pull the brush slightly then release pressure and lift to the chisel edge.)

• Continue painting short One Stroke leaves beginning the leaf at the stem and stroking outwards away from the stem.

• Paint as many fern leaves to the stem as desired.

• Create a second fern stalk. If desired, add just a touch of Perfect Purple to the Lime Green loaded brush. Notice how the small amount of Perfect Purple acts as a colorful accent to the leaf grouping.

• Load a No. 10 or 12 Flat brush with Perfect Purple.
• Paint an imperfect circle as the base of the hydrangea flower head.

• Individual flower petals are painted next. Double load the same brush with Ink Spot and Wicker White.
• Paint flower petals similar to the "five petal flower" while keeping Wicker White to the outside edge of each flower petal. Begin on the chisel edge of the brush, apply pressure in the middle of the flower petal, then release pressure and end on the chisel edge of the brush.
• Paint the individual petals on the outer edge of the Perfect Purple flower base as shown.

• To create added depth, some flower petals are painted with the same brush but double loaded with Perfect Purple and Wicker White.
• Layer each flower petal over previously painted ones to create depth.

• As the flower head is created, the petals to the top can be painted in a cluster to represent a small four or five petal flower.

• Paint flower centers Lime Green using a No. 2 Script Liner.
• The centers are simply small dots painted in a group of four to five dots.

• Double-load a No. 10 or 12 Flat brush with Perfect Purple and Wicker White.
• Create a small trail of blossoms leading to the hydrangea flower head.
• Begin painting a few daisy petal strokes leading with Perfect Purple and stroke towards the flower head.

• Still using the same double loaded brush, add a few more flower petals. This time add a few of the same petals as painted on the hydrangea flower head.

• Finish with a few additional daisy petal strokes closer to the flower head.

• Load a No. 2 Script liner brush with Lime Green that has been thinned with water or Floating Medium to an inky consistency.
• Touch the surface close to the hydrangea flower head. Keep the brush upright and allow only the tip of the brush to touch.
• Using light pressure, begin to pull the brush towards you.

• Continue moving the brush in a fluid, flowing motion painting circles and wiggles.
• To maintain light pressure, rest the weight of your hand on your little finger.
• Lift the brush to end the curlicue stroke.

Your completed One Stroke Hydrangea, complete with wiggle leaf, slider leaves and ferns enhanced with curlicues should look similar to the one shown here.