Star Spangled Sunflower ๐ป๐บ๐ธ
This patriotic sunflower project is such a fun way to combine summer florals with red, white, and blue style. Instead of painting a traditional sunflower, we’re turning the petals into an American flag-inspired design, then finishing the center with sparkling blue glass and resin. It’s perfect for summer decor, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Veterans Day, or any patriotic art display.
Step 1: Paint the Background
Start by painting the canvas with Oyster White. This gives the background a soft off-white tone instead of stark white, which makes it easier to see the white petals later. Cover the full canvas with a thin coat, then dry it with a heat gun. Let the surface cool before tracing or painting on top of it.
Step 2: Trace or Sketch the Sunflower
Use the center of a sunflower tracer to place the middle of the flower. Then sketch larger sunflower petals around the center. The goal is to create petals large enough to hold the flag-inspired design, so don’t make them too tiny or detailed.
Step 3: Paint the Flower Center
Paint the center of the sunflower with Navy Blue. This area will later be covered with glass, but the dark blue base helps create depth underneath the glass. Let the center dry before moving on.
Paint the petals with white acrylic paint. This gives you a clean base for the red stripes and blue section. Cover all petals that will become part of the striped portion of the flag. You don’t need perfect coverage yet, but you do want a good foundation.
Step 4: Paint the Blue Petals
Choose the petals that will represent the blue field of the flag. Mix a small amount of white into Navy Blue to create a slightly lighter blue, then paint those petals. While the paint is still wet, add a little straight Navy Blue to one side of each petal and a little white to the other side. This gives the petals dimension instead of leaving them flat.
Step 5: Add the Red Stripes
Lightly sketch horizontal stripe lines across the remaining petals. Mark which stripes will be red so you don’t lose your place as you paint. Use Primary Red to paint the red stripes across the petals, following the natural flower shape as you go.
After the red paint is down, add a little white where petals overlap or meet. This helps define each petal so the design still reads as a sunflower, not just a flag.
Step 6: Paint the Stars
Using white paint and a small liner brush, add simple stars to the blue petals. They don’t need to be perfect. Keep them loose and abstract so they match the handmade, painterly style of the project.
Step 7: Add Pen Details
Once the paint is dry, use a black graphic needle drawing pen to add loose, sketchy outlines. Use short strokes around the petals, stars, and stripe areas. Avoid trying to create perfect outlines. The loose pen work gives the piece a whimsical mixed-media look and helps the sunflower shape stand out.
Add a few curved lines inside the petals to suggest petal veins and movement.
Step 8: Add Glass to the Center
Add Pacific Blue Reflective glass to the center of the sunflower. Fill the center generously, arranging pieces so the glass reaches the edge of the painted circle. The reflective blue glass creates a bold, sparkly focal point and ties in beautifully with the patriotic color palette.
Step 9: Mix the Resin
Put on your rubber gloves. Mix 1 ounce total of Art Resin using 1/2 ounce resin and 1/2 ounce hardener. Pour both parts into a larger mixing cup and stir slowly for three full minutes, scraping the sides and bottom as you mix.
Step 10: Apply the Resin
Place the canvas on risers before pouring resin. Start by drizzling resin over the glass center so the resin settles between the glass pieces and secures them to the canvas. Then drizzle the remaining resin around the rest of the canvas.
Use gloved fingers to spread the resin evenly across the painted surface, working it all the way to the edges. You do not have to resin the sides unless you prefer that look.
Use a heat gun to gently pop any bubbles in the resin. Keep the heat moving across the surface and avoid holding it in one spot too long. Check for any dust or debris and remove it before the resin begins to cure.
This patriotic sunflower is a bright and meaningful summer art project with so much personality. The red and white striped petals, blue star section, sketchy pen details, and sparkling glass center come together to create a unique piece of patriotic mixed media art.
It’s a beautiful project for summer decorating, 4th of July displays, handmade gifts, or anyone who loves combining flowers, glass, resin, and patriotic colors.
If you're a member of The Shattered Circle, you'll find this tutorial in your classroom under Art Shattered Weekly Facebook Lives, search for "Star Spangled Sunflower".
If you don’t want to miss my Facebook LIVE art instruction, make sure you are on my texting list. I always text 10 minutes before I’m going to go LIVE, so you won’t ever miss it. You can text “Hey Cindy” to 901-519-2923.
Want more inspiration and artwork?
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