Painting an Orchid with Duo Aqua Oils!

Margaret Ford uses Duo Oil paints to give a good permanent coloured finish and they are ideal for colouring cold porcelain. Duo Aqua Oils can be diluted with thinners or with water to achieve different effects. These colours blend very easily and dry much more quickly than conventional oils. Remember that it is not the same as conventional painting, and I hope you find the guidance on using them, in this short tutorial, helpful.

Soft bristle brushes are required - mainly flat, and small round ones for finer areas. Apply paint from the tip of the brush only - do not load the brush with too much paint :

It is important to use the minimum amount of thinners - too much will leave a blotchy and shiny finish. Low odour thinners (eg Sansodor) are preferrable. Test colours on a single petal or spare piece of dried paste first. Never apply sealer sprays or varnish until the oil paint has dried thoroughly, to avoid a cloudy finish.

Colouring the Orchid :

(A) The flower is made in white paste.

(B) When dry, the petals and sepals are coloured with Alizarin Crimson using a short bristled brush, adding colour with a firm "scrubbing" action. Do not use too much thinners!

(C) Apply deep yellow (Deep Yellow or Light Yellow mixed with a little Burnt Umber) into the throat. Add more colour to give shading to the petals and sepals and also to the top of the column.

(D) The dark burgundy (mixture of Alizarin Crimson & Burnt Umber) markings on the lip can be painted with a fine brush, but are even more easily applied with a piece of floristry wire dipped into paint.