A Simple Sunflower to Welcome Fall

There’s just something about sunflowers that makes me happy. Maybe it’s their bright yellow petals, their cheerful faces, or the fact that they always seem to remind me that summer isn’t quite ready to leave us yet.

And since August is the perfect time to start thinking about fall painting, I thought I’d share a sunflower painting that is simple enough for a beginner—but looks like you spent a lot more time on it than you actually did!

This little 8 x 10 canvas is a great example of something I tell my painting students all the time:

You don't have to be an experienced artist to create something beautiful.

In fact, this painting is made up of some very simple steps.

Start with the Drawing

Begin by drawing or tracing your sunflower onto an 8 x 10 canvas. If you aren't comfortable drawing the flower yourself, there's absolutely nothing wrong with tracing it!

I also added a little pumpkin in the lower left corner. You could leave it off, add another pumpkin, or even add something completely different. This is your painting, so make it your own!

Once your drawing is in place, paint the entire background black—or choose another dark color if you'd like. A dark background really makes those bright sunflower colors pop!

Let's Paint That Sunflower

For the sunflower petals, I mixed orange and yellow together. You don't have to worry about making every petal exactly the same. In fact, a little variation makes the flower more interesting.

The pumpkin gets the same orange-and-yellow treatment.

Next comes the center of the sunflower. Use brown mixed with burnt umber and paint the center of the flower.

Here's a little tip: Don't make the edge of the sunflower center perfectly smooth.

Let it be a little uneven and irregular. Nature isn't perfectly symmetrical, and those little imperfections will actually make your flower look more natural.

While the center is still workable, use the wooden end of your paintbrush to add little yellow and orange dots throughout the center.

Just dip the end of the brush into your paint and make little dots.

It’s almost like making polka dots—and it's one of those simple little techniques that makes a big difference!

Add the Stems and Leaves

While the sunflower center dries, you can work on the stems and leaves.

Mix some blue and green together to create a pretty teal color. Use this for the stems and leaves of both the sunflower and pumpkin.

And here's another place where you don't need to be perfect.

Add a few curly-cue vines coming off the pumpkin. You can also add a curly stem coming off the sunflower. These little swirls add movement and interest to the painting without requiring any complicated painting skills.

Once your stems and leaves are painted, add a few white and orange highlights.

You don't need many. Just a few strokes here and there will give the leaves and stems some dimension.

Now for the Highlights

This is where the painting really starts to come alive.

Add some white highlights to the sunflower petals. Again, don't cover everything. A few strategically placed strokes are all you need.

The highlights don't have to be perfectly placed, either. That's part of the fun!

Finally, add some wispy orange and yellow paint swashes randomly across the black background.

These don't need to look like anything in particular. Just add a few loose, flowing strokes here and there. They help tie all of the colors together and give the background a little extra interest.

And that's it!

See? You Can Do This!

One of my favorite things about this painting is that it looks much more complicated than it really is.

You don't need perfect brushstrokes. You don't need to know how to paint realistic flowers. And you certainly don't need to consider yourself an artist before you pick up a brush.

You just need to be willing to give it a try.

If you've been telling yourself, "I can't paint," maybe this is the painting that proves you wrong.

And if you're already a painter, this is a fun little project to get you in the mood for the changing season.

So grab an 8 x 10 canvas, your favorite fall colors, and a paintbrush—and give it a try!

It's a simple little sunflower, but it might just give you a big boost of confidence.

And what better way to start off fall?

From my easel to yours,

Happy Painting!

Vicky