In this week’s mixed media art journal session, we explored creating a dreamy, layered floral art journal page using a color palette that focused on blue tones and touches of yellow and teal. This is a great project if you want to loosen up your creative practice, play with layering, and let go of perfection.
To get started, I used a 7×10 mixed media journal with smooth paper that can handle both watercolor and acrylic layers. Prep your art journal by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Next, I primed my page with matte medium. Matte medium creates a subtle barrier so subsequent paint layers glide beautifully, and it keeps colors from sinking in too quickly.
For the background, I brushed on a soft yellow shade (Baby Duck), blended with white for a light, airy effect. While the paint was still wet, I added strokes of green from the bottom like Dragon Teal and Green Gold, to create a grass effect. I’ll also add some around the edges as well. Dry with a heat tool.
Next up, I sketched in my flowers using white acrylic, right on top of the background. No fancy drawing needed – this is more of a suggestion than a blueprint. Let the shapes be loose and imperfect.
Next, add color to your petals! I’m using different shades of blues, like Phthalo Turquoise, Gingham Blue, Grecian Blue, and Stormy. For the flower centers, I’ll use Lavender Haze. Use a liner brush with black acrylic paint to add stems and some outlines.
For the leaves, I decided to break tradition and went with blue and teal tones instead of green. It felt modern and just a bit unexpected, which I love. The leaves are layered over the flowers in a super organic, playful way. Dry with a heat tool.
Next, I’ll add lots of fun details! I’ll use a liner brush to add white detail lines to the leaves. Mix some other blue lines in as well. To add more dimension, I grabbed a small stencil brush, dipped it into black paint, and brushed most of it off before lightly tapping in the flower centers for a soft, textural look.
One of my absolute favorite finishing details was using a foam detail tool to make polka dots across the flowers and leaves. Different pressures give you different dot sizes, adding so much fun energy to the piece.
I’ll also use the foam detail tool to incorporate some small purple flowers into the background with white flower centers. Use a fan brush with black paint to add some splatter to your art journal page. I also popped in tiny signature red hearts for a joyful surprise.
Once everything was dry, I sealed the piece with DuraClear Satin, peeled off the painter’s tape, and that crisp, clean edge made the whole page shine. If you’ve ever felt afraid of “messing up,” this project is your sign to relax, let the paint do its thing, and trust that you can always add more layers.
Watch the replay below!
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Supply List:
- 7 X 10 Mixed Media Journal
- Painter’s Tape
- Acrylic Paints: Carbon Black, Dragon Teal, Green Gold, Baby Duck, Phthalo Turquoise, Gingham Blue, Grecian Blue, Stormy, Titanium White and Lavender Haze
- Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Studios Brush Sets 1
- Ink: Ranger Archival Black
- Sealer: DuraClear Satin,
- Matte Medium: Decoart
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