Acrylic Painting: How to Paint a Beautiful Butterfly and Flowers

Supplies needed for the class:

#1. Paint:  Acrylic paint in a variety of colors. You can purchase acrylic craft paint from your local craft store, such as Plaid or Americana. For a more expensive option, there is Liquitex or Windsor Newton. You should have the following colors: dark blue, dark green, light green, light blue, black, white, pink, purple, orange or brown if you would prefer the butterfly to be orange or brown.  Other colors are optional. 

#2. Paintbrushes: You will need a few different brushes. For this painting you will need a large flat brush for the background, a small flat brush for the flowers, and a small round brush for the details and small branches. 

Here is my general list of brushes: A large flat brush for large areas, such as backgrounds. A few smaller flat brushes (we use those for the majority of the painting). A medium and a small round tip brush for the final details. For most of my paintings I find that these brushes are enough: # 12 Flat, # 8 Flat, # 12 Round, # 8 Round, # 2 Round.

#3. Canvas: Canvas board or stretch canvas work well. Sizes between 9 by 12 inches, and 16 by 20 inches will work well. Alternative painting surfaces can be wood, cardboard, and heavy duty paper, such as watercolor paper or cardstock.

#4. Palette: No need to buy a fancy pallet. A paper plate, or a recycled plastic container will work well. 

#5. Cup with water to wash brushes in, an old towel, or paper towels to wipe the brush with. 

Don't forget to wear appropriate clothing for painting!