How to's, Tips & advice

#simpycreate fruity mini canvas with acrylics

How to paint an orange with acrylics

Jennie Wickings, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial, you will learn how to paint an orange with acrylic! Ideal to initiate with the painting of still life, a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, either natural (fruits, flowers, plants, rocks...) or man-made (glasses, books, vases...).

How to paint an orange with acrylics

Jennie Wickings, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial, you will learn how to paint an orange with acrylic! Ideal to initiate with the painting of still life, a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, either natural (fruits, flowers, plants, rocks...) or man-made (glasses, books, vases...).

The materials in your kit

Simply Acrylic Paint Set
Simply Acrylic Paintbrushes
Simply Canvas
Simply Sketching Pencils

Your step by step guide

Step 1
Find an orange model

Orange is an easy design however is not only orange! There are many shades we will be able to work on... Look for an orange to use as a model for this workshop.

Next step
Step 2
Draw the outline

Lightly draw the outline of your orange.

Next step
Step 3
Select your paints

Select your paints and place little blobs of them on your white mixing palette. Gather your acrylic colours and acrylic brushes. You will also need sketching pencils and a glass of water.

Next step
Step 4
Mix your colours

Start mixing your colours. 

Tip: For more information about colour mixing, Jennie recommends the use of a colour wheel. It will give you all the information you need to know how to create one colour from two different shades...

Next step
Step 5
Start with a round brush

With a round brush, paint your orange, and start mixing red and yellow. Always refer to your model, painting is also a lot about observing.

Tip: Acrylic is very forgiving; you can approach your painting with confidence! Art is all about trial and error...

Next step
Step 6
Let the acrylic dry

Wait for the acrylic to dry, and we will then use a bevelled brush with a greeny blue to paint the background. Orange and blue work really well together and will be very eye-catching. 

Tip: Jennie recommends painting the edges of your canvas as well for a nicer result, and because these small canvases usually do not get framed.

Next step
Step 7
Add some green

Add some green with the fine detail brush at the top of the orange. And add some shadow around it with a redder orange.

Next step
Step 8
Add some highlights

Finally, add some white with the fan brush to add some highlights to your fruit. It will add some 3-dimensionality to the painting.

Place your artwork on a mini easel and you are done! Ideal for mini-exhibition and for small gifts for your guests!

Next step

Your step by step guide

What you’ll need

About the artist

Jennie Webber (Wickings) is an artist and freelance illustrator, specialising in animals and nature. Using inks, watercolour and printmaking, Jennie draws inspiration from the world’s more bizarre animals, colourful marine life and unique ecosystems.