In this tutorial, we paint a three-dimensional butterfly. We will do this using 4 basic acrylic painting techniques.
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Four Basic Painting Techniques / Skills
If you are a beginner, this miniature painting will be a good introduction to acrylic painting. There are lots of acrylic painting techniques or skills, here we will focus only on the following:
Paint Application
As you probably guess, basic paint application is one of the skills we need to learn.
We have to learn how to load and control the brush since we will be using it to apply the paint. This includes familiarizing ourselves with the paint’s opacity, thickness, and drying time.
In steps 2, 4, 5, and 6; we will be applying paint using broader strokes.
In steps 3, 7, 8, and 9; we will be applying paint thinly. This will require more hand control and focus than broad strokes. If you are using a heavy-bodied paint, you will also learn to use water to thin it for easier application.
Color Mixing
Another skill that is essential when painting is color mixing. As you move along with more advanced painting projects, some hues/colors will not be available in the store.
While it could be easier to just use premade colors, we will make our own by mixing two colors in this project. This will give us a little peek into the complex world of color mixing.
In step 5, we will be making a secondary color(orange) out of primary colors(red & yellow).
Simple gradation
Gradation is the gradual shift from one hue/texture/shade to another. Because acrylics dry fast, this technique could be challenging, especially with larger paintings.
In steps 4, 5 & 6, we will use a bit of gradation when transitioning between red, orange, and yellow.
Shadow
Adding shadow can make an object appear three-dimensional. Before adding the shadow, one must first imagine a light source in relation to the object/s in the painting.
In step 8, we will add a very simple shadow to make the butterfly appear three-dimensional.
Butterfly Acrylic Painting Step-by-Step Tutorial
Materials for Butterfly painting
- Basic Acrylic Paint: white, black, red, and yellow
- Painting Surface: I used rock for this tutorial. You can do this on mini canvas, heavy paper or whatever surface that works with acrylic
- Brush: small round brush
- Acrylic washing setup: this includes a jar of water, a rag, and old paper. This is to keep your brush and workspace clean.
- *Optional: Pencil or colored pencil for sketching
- Clear coat: if you will display them outdoor
This project is suited for all skill levels. The detailed instructions are geared toward beginners in mind.
1. Sketch a butterfly (optional)
Using a pencil make a rough sketch of the butterfly.
I do this by drawing a line. Add 2 diamonds for the lower wings. Add 2 bigger diamonds for the top wings.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, this will be covered with paint later. The goal of this is just to know the right size and placement of the butterfly.
If you have confidence in your brush skills, you can skip this step and just go straight to Step 2.
2. Prime and underpaint the butterfly
Dip the brush in water then wipe it with the towel. Load half of the brush tip with white paint. You can try and paint on scrap paper first if you like.
On the rock, start by using the tip of the brush to outline the butterfly. Then start filling it with white paint.
The goal here is to cover the surface that we will be working on with a thin layer of white paint. Let it dry to the touch.
Clean the brush by swishing it in the water. Gently stroke it side to side in the towel to partially dry.
Notes:
*This will serve as a primer and underpainting since the rock is gray and bare. If you are using a light-colored canvas or surface, you can skip ahead to step 3.
*If you are using rock, you can also paint it all white first if you prefer a white background.
3. Outline the butterfly
Dip the tip of the damp brush into the black paint. Practice painting a thin line on a piece of paper.
If the paint is too thick to make a thin line, you can quickly dip the tip of the brush into the water. Then mix it with a little black paint in the palette. Try it in the paper again, until you are happy with the result.
With the right paint consistency in the brush, draw the outline of the butterfly. Let it dry. Clean the brush while waiting.
4. Apply the red paint to the wings
Load the half tip of the brush with red paint.
Start by outlining the outer corner of the top wings. Lightly brush some of the paint toward the center of the butterfly.
Using the same brush with red paint, outline the outer corners of the bottom wings. Lightly brush the paint toward the center of the butterfly. Don’t clean the brush yet.
5. Make some orange paint and blend
Use the tip of the brush (still with some red paint) to pick up some paint from the sides of the yellow paint in the palette. Blend them by stroking the tip of the brush side by side to create orange paint. Try to keep some of the yellow paint in the palette for use in step #6.
Apply a bit of orange in the middle of the first wing. Slightly blend it with the red in the middle of the wing by stroking side to side following a diagonal direction of the wing. Do the same with the 3 remaining wings.
6. Blend some yellow paint
Dip the tip of the brush in the leftover yellow paint in the palette. Apply a bit of yellow in the inner corners of each wing. Blend following the direction of each butterfly’s wing. Try to keep some of red on the outer sides and yellow in the center of the butterfly.
Let the paint dry to the touch. Rinse and towel dry the brush.
7. Use black paint for details
Dip the tip of the brush into the black paint and then water to dilute the paint, then blot excess water on a piece of paper.
Lightly paint the thin details in each of the wings. You can do this by making oval shapes following the diagonal direction of each wing.
Add the antennae. Add more black paint if needed to make the outer sides of the wings thicker.
8. Add shadow
Quickly dip the brush (still with leftover black paint) into the water. Blot excess water on the paper.
Imagine a light source coming from the upper left side of the butterfly, add the shadow in the opposite direction.
Clean the brush.
I got excited about adding white dots, I forgot to take pictures right after I painted the shadow.
9. Add white dots
Dip the tip of the brush in the white paint. Add the white dots. Let the painting completely dry.
Here is my video tutorial. You will notice some difference with the written one, but the concepts are still the same.
There you have it, a cute little butterfly. This can be done on any acrylic-friendly surface you like.
I hope you will try this fun project today. Happy painting!
