Geranium Chalk Art Tutorial

I cannot think of a better way to welcome spring than a pot of good old fashioned red geraniums. So today we will enjoy a geranium chalk art tutorial!

My father was quite a gardener and grew his own geraniums in his huge greenhouse that he spent as much time in during the winter months as he could! Our family benefited from his time in the greenhouse. We had giant pots of geraniums usually to be planted in old black iron washtubs or pots and placed in honor beside the front doors of our houses…

Geranium Chalk Art Tutorial

I have included a photo of the pastels that I used in this painting. Now, I have a vast array of pastels, and I don’t want you to become discouraged if you see my selections and you feel like you don’t have any of the same colors. Hey, we ARE artists, aren’t we? We can use other colors and make beautiful paintings of pink geraniums or any colors that you like! You need an assortment of reds, greens, dark and light browns and a medium blue. That’s it!

Let’s get started! Take your rusty red pastel and draw the flower pot. It is an oval at the top for the opening of the pot, under the opening is the lip of the pot, then two straight sides and a bottom. It does not have to be perfect because the pot is not the star of the painting, the geranium is the star!

Turn your rusty red pastel on the side and LIGHTLY color in the color of the pot, leave some white spots to make it really look like an old pot. Remember to add some shadow under the lip of the pot and to the right side of the pot because the light is from the left.

The leaves are next and they are basically impressions of geranium leaves, not very distinct and a bit messy. Put some light yellow on the leaves to show some sunlight on the left of the leaves and when you add the stems to the flowers.

The flowers are fun to paint with such bright reds! They aren’t hard because they are just round circles of blossoms. There are some buds on the flower to the right; they are in light green and look like short oval shapes.

You have to put this pot on a table because it would just fall off the page left there in the big white background! I like blue, so I used a very small tablecloth of blue under the pot.

What a great painting! Your colors are beautiful and you have done such a wonderful job! Be sure to sign it in the corner, flip the painting over and name it and put a date on it. And, always remember…you ARE an artist!

FEATURING YOU! YOU ARE AN ARTIST!

So, paint your geranium and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on social media, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page!

• A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase, and links to all of Nana’s other pastel lessons are here: 100+ Free Art Lessons for All Ages plus the video The Very Few Must Have Supplies for Chalk Pastel Art. A simple set is very affordable. Nana also teaches acrylic lessons.
• The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.

Do you and your artists learn best with a video art tutorial? Find Nana’s Geranium Video Art Lesson in the You ARE an Artist Clubhouse at ChalkPastel.com!

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