Painting Wild Primroses in Mixed Media
Last night we painted the wild primrose, that delicate little spring flower that appears quietly in hedgerows and along woodland paths. If you are watching the recording now, I am so pleased you are here. Take your time and enjoy moving through the process at your own pace.
Watch Here:
I began by talking about what mixed media really means. It is simply the layering and combining of different materials to build richness and texture. With our wild primrose, we first took time to understand its structure. I showed you how to begin with the small star shape in the centre, then gently build the soft, pale petals around it. We kept our sketch light at first, refining the lines once we felt comfortable. The rounded leaves helped anchor the flower and gave balance to the composition.
From there, we moved into paint. I started with a loose watercolour background in purples and pinks, adding touches of orange for warmth and contrast. Once that had dried, I used gouache to paint the soft creamy yellows and whites of the primrose petals.
Finally, I added definition and detail with acrylic paint markers and Neocolor crayons. At times it may have looked a little messy, but that is the nature of mixed media. The magic often happens in the layering. Trust the process!
At the end of the class, everyone’s work was completely unique. Some kept their sketch lines visible, others layered boldly, and some changed direction as they worked. That is exactly as it should be. It is not about perfection. It is about noticing, exploring and capturing the essence of the wild primrose.
I also shared a few practical updates about the website and recordings. The library is now easier to navigate, with an extra page between the main page and the group page. For existing members, nothing changes at all. New members will simply see the updated price, and all recordings are now much easier to find.
Next week we will focus on wet-on-wet watercolour, working in a simpler way with just watercolour and a sketchbook. I am very much looking forward to that gentle, flowing technique.
Materials I used in this class:
Ohuhu acrylic paint markers
Derwent Colour Pencils
Derwent Inktense crayon sticks
Watercolour paints
Gouache (white and yellow)
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II crayons
Please remember, you can join in with whatever materials you have at home. Mixed media is about freedom and curiosity. I cannot wait to see your wild primroses.