How to paint Asparagus

Happy First Day of Spring! I say that as the rain is pouring down, the wind is howling, and pretty soon we’ll have snow. Are you as ready as I am for Spring?

Along with beautiful flowers, Spring brings wonderful, fresh produce. What food does springtime make you of? Strawberries? Or maybe just enjoying an outdoor bbq? This morning, I thought of fresh, verdant asparagus!

Wouldn’t this perk up your kitchen? It’s so easy to paint, too!

Just four colors of paint – Buttercream, Fresh Foliage, Hauser Green Medium, and Violet Pansy – all by Plaid.

Don’t let the Violet Pansy freak you out, okay? Just go with it and I think you’ll surprise yourself.

First, just basecoat the ‘spears’ with Fresh Foliage. If you want a pattern to transfer, email me and I’ll get one to you.

Next, you’ll need to choose which spear is in front, behind, and the farthest behind. It doesn’t matter – it’s totally up to you.

Just by shading with Hauser Green Medium you’ll create a layered look. On this ‘top’ stalk, I applied some shading ‘behind’ the spear (on the right) and some right on the spear (on the left).

Continue adding shading until each spear is defined. You can also add a little Hauser Green Medium to parts of each spear if you want a little more texture.

Now paint some Buttercream to the top part of the stalks.

To create the tips, use a liner or round brush and apply another coat of Buttercream, making little ‘ears’ or tips.

Add a few tips down each stalk too.

Now, for the purple, or Violet Pansy. When I first painted this, I didn’t think it’d work. But it does. Just keep going . . .

I was a little chicken at first and mixed Violet Pansy with some Buttercream to lighten it up.

Don’t.

You’ll want the Violet Pansy full strength because you’re going to paint a topcoat of Fresh Foliage over the entire asparagus spear.

See what I mean? I like the deeper purple better, but you can lighten it if you want.

You don’t want a heavy coat of Fresh Foliage – just dampen your brush and pick up the paint. You’ll still see the Violet Pansy and Buttercream peeking through.