How To Create a 3D Textured Impasto Floral Art Canvas Painting

Grab your supplies and make sure your work surface is covered to protect it from paint. Make sure to have a cleaning cloth or paper towels as well as a cup of water to clean your brushes and palette knives.

Paint the canvas background in a colour or colours of your choice using your acrylic paints. This could be in a colour that matches the colour palette of your painting or something different to create contrast within your artwork.

To cover your canvas in more than one colour it is best to mix your acrylic paint with lots of water so it is easier to create a gradient.

Whilst the canvas is drying, take some time to plan out how you want your artwork to look, using a piece of scrap paper and a pencil.

Having a plan for where to place your flowers and what colours you wish to use makes the overall process easier when you begin painting.

Mix three parts modelling paste with one-part acrylic paint in your chosen colours. The colours will turn out slightly lighter once mixed due to the white of the modelling paste, so keep this in mind when mixing your colours as you may want to add some deeper/darker tones to get to your desired colour.

Mix together well using a palette knife or paint brush.

Before working directly on the canvas, practice using your palette knives with the paint on scrap paper. A pointed palette knife will create triangular leaf and petal shapes, while a flat, rounded-tip knife will create softer, rounder forms.

Pick up some of your pre-mixed colour onto the back of your palette knife, press lightly onto your canvas and drag your palette knife downward. As you drag, begin to slowly add more pressure to push the paste and spread it out. This creates the desired 3D shape because the higher, thicker end of the leaf/petal is at the top, going into the wider, flatter part at the end. This works great for layering petals and leaves.

Try layering your petal marks to create different shaped flowers. This works really well with a rounded palette knife.

Using your palette knife create a rounded shape of petals, add another smaller ring of petals inside and continue this until you reach the middle.

Continue adding in flowers and petals to your canvas, varying the sizes in order to fill the space and make your artwork more visually interesting.

When you are happy with your main flower and leaf shapes, leave to dry fully before progressing to the next step.

Once the petals have dried fully, begin adding the centre parts to your flowers using different shades of yellow and white.

Use the tip of a pointed palette knife and make small dots in a circular shape for smaller flowers.

Use the same technique as the petals to create the centres of the larger flowers with a rounded palette knife.

Try experimenting with different palette knives for different flowers for more visual interest.

Once you are happy with your piece, it is time to neaten up the edges of your canvas with paint and display your canvas proudly in your home!