Colouring Acanthus: Fundamentals
75 reviews across the courses here, averaging 4.9 out of 5.
Learn to read a reference, understand light and value, then colour an acanthus scroll in harmonious blues and greens.
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Also included in the OB Art Circle membership, from $19/month.
What you'll learn
- Study a reference properly before you begin to paint
- Simplify a complex ornament into clear, paintable shapes
- Find the light source and read colour relationships accurately
- Keep tonal values intact once colour is introduced
- Layer acrylics smoothly and build gentle transitions
- Preserve highlights and strengthen shadows for real depth
- Hold a design together with a limited, harmonious palette
What you will work through
Colour is far more than a way of filling an ornamental design. It can strengthen a form, carry the eye along a movement, and bring an acanthus leaf to life. Many of us apply colour confidently enough, yet still find it hard to know what to look for in a reference, which details matter, and how to let colour support the structure of a leaf instead of flattening it.
In this workshop we come at colouring through observation. Before a brush is picked up, you will learn how to study a reference the way an artist does: what deserves your attention, how to simplify a complex form into clear shapes, and how to find the colours, values and patterns of light that describe an acanthus leaf. The aim is not to copy what you see, but to interpret it and make your own decisions.
From there we look at light and shadow together, and at tonal value. You will see how highlights, mid-tones and shadows work as a group to create depth, and why those values still need protecting once colour arrives.
We then put all of it to work on a traditional acanthus scroll, using two harmonious shades of blue and green. Step by step, you will layer colour, keep your transitions smooth, preserve highlights, and use tonal variation to bring out the movement and depth of the design while holding the palette together.
Best for
- Artists who want to understand colouring, not just follow a technique
- Anyone new to colouring acanthus leaves
- Ornamental artists already comfortable with drawing who want more depth in colour
- Artists drawn to botanical illustration, manuscript-inspired work and decorative design
Requirements
- No previous colouring experience needed
- Some comfort with drawing an acanthus leaf is helpful, though not essential
Materials
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Fineliner or ink pen
- Drawing paper or a sketchbook
- Acrylic colours
- Brushes
- Colour palette
10 lessons · 2h 5m
- 01Introduction2m Preview
- 02Materials Required4m Locked
- 03Value Study8m Locked
- 04Colour Selection3m Locked
- 05Base Layer19m Locked
- 06Green Scroll: First Highlights21m Locked
- 07Green Scroll: Building Depth13m Locked
- 08Green Scroll: Refining9m Locked
- 09Blue Scroll Highlights10m Locked
- 10Final Details37m Locked
- Reference imageLocked
- Value studyLocked
- Highlight placementLocked
Anjali Singh
Anjali Singh is the artist behind Ooshybooshy, specialising in floral, ornamental and acanthus art. 301 students have enrolled in her courses, and she teaches inside the OB Art Circle too, taking people from first strokes to confident, balanced ornamental compositions and sharing her process for structure, references, composition and intricate detailing. More about Anjali.
Reviews
No one has reviewed this course yet. What can be said is the rest: 301 people have enrolled in a course here, and the 75 reviews left on the other courses average 4.9 out of 5.
Yours could be the first review on it.
Questions, answered
Should I buy this course once, or subscribe?＋
Both work. A one-time purchase gives you lifetime access to this course, yours to revisit forever. An OB Art Circle membership instead opens this course and every other included course to you, for as long as your subscription stays active.
What materials do I need?＋
Each lesson lists what to use. For most ornamental work a sketchbook, pencil, eraser and a fineliner pen are enough to begin.
Is this suitable for my level?＋
Yes. It is made for all levels: every step is demonstrated slowly, so a newcomer can follow along and a more experienced artist still has plenty to refine. Anything worth having first is listed under Requirements.
How do I pay?＋
Outside India you pay in US dollars through PayPal, by card or with a PayPal account. In India you pay in rupees through Razorpay, by UPI, card or net banking. The currency is picked for you, and the INR and USD switch in the site header or menu changes it.
Where to go next
How to Draw an Acanthus Leaf: Beginner Course
Acanthus Design Course: Leaves, Lobes and Curves
Advanced Acanthus Scrollwork and Composition
Would you like to try it before you buy? I have written a free step by step tutorial on the same motif: How to Draw Acanthus Leaves, Step by Step.
Start learning today
Secure checkout via PayPal
Also included in the OB Art Circle membership.