This painting came about because I had signed up for something on Ali Kay Studio’s website. I got a free paint-these-zinnias packet as a result, which included a reference photo, drawing template, supply list, and a photo of how Ali Kay did her own painting based off the reference.

I traced the template on to canvas, covered the pencil marks and did the value mapping in Payne’s gray (too dark, I think), and followed her process for underpainting (based on some of her YouTube videos). From what I can determine, she paints the complementary color — so the yellow flowers have a purple underpainting, and so on. On the whole, I think I went to dark on the Payne’s gray — not sure what color she uses — and in the past I’ve ignored pencil or charcoal marks (so I’ll continue to stick with that in the future).

I like Ali Kay’s style for portraits of kids and animals — not sure I’m sold for florals, so I went my own way and did my own thing. For better or worse. I am most satisfied with the flower pot, and using my brushstrokes to convey the cylindrical shape.

This painting was done on a 6×6 birch panel, prepared with gesso. It’s my version of Ali Kay‘s poinsettia painting. She’s an artist I recently discovered on Instagram who paints with acrylics, and I like her bold style.