Florals in Bloom: Online Studio Workshop

Let me share with you all of my "gardening" techniques in floral design as you learn to create your own floral masterpieces using alcohol inks and mixed media.

Buy $77.00

Alcohol Inks + Mixed Media

There is no better time to pick up your paintbrush than summer so get ready to come and unleash your creativity and learn with me as I guide you in the creation of your own floral masterpieces.

Over the years, I’ve immersed myself in painting gorgeous blooms and I know that many share my universal love of flowers. Whether I am painting in alcohol inks, encaustic wax, or other mediums such as acrylics and oils, I’ve always had a soft spot for florals. The more expressive, the better!

Florals in Bloom is filled to the brim with content:
Over nine hours of video (63 videos) to take you on a fabulous adventure through all types of floral creations. 

Imagine Yourself Sitting Side-by-Side With Me

My online classes allow my students to feel like I am right there working through each step of the process. Very "unscripted" and real, my online classes are a combination of me talking and explaining the process as well as many video demonstrations. 

In every video, you'll see me showing you exactly how I create art - nothing is held back and all of my techniques are revealed. On some demonstrations, the inks will do their "magic" with beautiful fluidity. In other lessons, you'll watch several step-by-step instructions that take thoughtful commitment and practice. You see it all.

Level of Difficulty:
All Skill Levels Welcome

In Florals in Bloom, I will walk you through key fundamental elements in thinking about florals. Color studies, learning how to make perfect stems and leaves, and step-by-step in modern floral design will be at the beginning of your journey.  Setting The Foundation is full of important and inspirational information for you, as well. 

Each module takes you through understanding the basic shape and design of flowers whether thinking of abstract or more realistic flowers.

Each demonstration takes you through my thinking process and you will see how I use brushes with alcohol inks and how the addition of mixed media in our designs adds such depth and excitement to your pieces.


CLICK ON THE ARTWORK ABOVE TO PREVIEW EACH PIECE AT A HIGH RESOLUTION

This class has something for everyone and the possibilities are endless. Whether you want to paint small or go bigger, this class offers you a place to nurture your own style and invites creative expression in floral design.

As always, my classes are about joyfully discovering the energy, motion, flow and the beauty of the alcohol inks and beyond. No two paintings will be alike and from the beginning, your voice and your style will brilliantly shine through each of your paintings.

Whether you are one of my many alumni or a new student to my classes, you will soon understand that experimentation and exploration is an important part of my classes and no matter what your skill level my classes encourage creativity - and FUN!

Here's What You'll Learn & Explore:

  •  Beautiful color combinations in all of the alcohol inks available to create gorgeous floral pieces.
  •  Learn all of the supplies that I use, important safety tips, and information on sealing and archival quality of your art.
  •  How to mix colors to make the perfect greens for stems and leaves, including my secret for making PERFECT stems.
  •  Where and how to find inspiration for your Florals in Bloom.
  •  Easy step-by-step directions for creating simple, modern florals.
  •  How to create florals on black modeling film, black glossy card stock, Yupo, Ampersand Gessobord, and canvas.
  •  How to use alcohol ink and a brush as well as combining acrylics to create colorful mixed-media backgrounds.
  •  How to create eight single alcohol ink abstract floral studies.
  •  How to make a gorgeous coneflower with a feathery skirt of petals, including my secret for adding fun texture to cone-shaped flowers.
  •  How to create beautiful peonies and poppies using only alcohol inks on Yupo.
  •  Learn how I used lemon-colored gesso on gessobord to create a beautiful foundation for mixed media.
  •  Explore adding encaustic wax to your alcohol ink pieces to create depth as well as creating simple encaustic florals.
  •  Learn what Ceracolor water-soluble wax is all about and how to use it in your floral pieces.
  •  How to use reference photos to trace your florals as we create a beautiful step-by-step flower using masking fluid.
  •  Learn how I create Iris bulbs in alcohol ink and acrylics, encaustic wax, and Ceracolor water-soluble wax.
  •  Learn how to paint BIG on treated canvas using both alcohol inks as well as acrylics.
  •  My secrets for knowing how to present your art for sharing in other groups or in product development.
  •  How to use practice sheets of gorgeous ink-stained Yupo and turn into a mixed media masterpiece.
  •  Learn several different websites and/or phone apps for framing and presenting your art online to showcase your masterpieces.
  • Surprise and Bonus Tutorial -Kimberly Langlois' Gorgeous Floral
  • And much more.....


Once you join, consider this a self-study class where you can go at your own pace, for as long as you like. Doesn't Lifetime Access sound great? You will also have an opportunity to join my Facebook Group - Alexis Bonavitacola Art Classes - where all students in all of my classes share joyfully in my amazing learning community of artists.

My Alexis Bonavitacola Art Classes Facebook group is full of constant encouragement, inspiration, motivation, and support. I am deeply committed to the growth of each and every student in my classes.

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Join me as we create beautiful flowers in Florals in Bloom.

Scroll down for the workshop supply list!

Buy $77.00

Workshop Format

THE ONLINE STUDIO WORKSHOP IS PRE-RECORDED AND IS HOSTED ON THE EASY-TO-USE THINKIFIC PLATFORM.

The workshop is designed for you to work at your own pace, and you receive instant access to ALL of the workshop content when you login with your Thinkific account name and password (you will be prompted to create a free account upon registering if you don't already have one as one of my past students). Enrollment never closes, so you can join anytime you feel ready to create beautiful Circles of Love!

You will have lifetime access so you can rewatch, pause, and reference back over and over again. You will also receive access to my thriving and welcoming student Facebook group, Alexis Bonavitacola Art Classes, where you can post any of the artwork you create as a result of your learning!

What's included?

63 Videos
8 Texts
2 PDFs

Course Curriculum

Learner Planning Checklist - Florals in Bloom
Module 1 - Welcome to Florals in Bloom - Setting The Foundation
93:11
Module 2 - Florals in Bloom - Alcohol Ink Art Creations
88:10
Module 3 - Dancing Queen - Alcohol Inks on Black Glossy Cardstock
11:43
Module 4 - Floral Symphony - Alcohol Inks on Art Blackout Modeling Film
13:06
Module 5 - Florals in Bloom - Gorgeous Peony and Poppy on White
15:08
Module 6 - Drawing and Painting Flowers 101
36:40
Module 7 - Mixed Media: Alcohol Inks and Acrylics - Summer of Love
34:22
Module 8 - Mixed Media: Encaustic Wax and Ceracolor Water-Soluble Wax
17:58
Module 9 - Iris Bulb Studies - Alcohol Inks & Acrylics, Ceracolors Water-Soluble Wax, and Encaustic Wax
30:35
Module 10 - Beautiful Single Iris in a Field of Green: Step-By-Step Process
44:40
Module 11 - Floral Beauty - Mixed Media: Alcohol Inks and Acrylics
19:38
Module 12 - Mixed Media on Large Canvas: Alcohol Inks, Acrylics and Pastels - Midnight Garden
24:10
Module 13 - Bonus Florals in Encaustic Wax and Mixed Media
67:58
Module 14 - Bonus - Create Your Own Coloring Book
14:27
Module 15 - Bonus - Photo Apps to Present Your Masterpieces
23:15
Module 16 - Surprise and Bonus Tutorial -Kimberly Langlois' Gorgeous Floral
07:44
Module 17 - Final Thoughts
04:31


Start your journey with Florals in Bloom:
Alcohol Inks and Mixed Media for only $77

Register Now

Supply List

PLEASE NOTE:

When you purchase the workshop, you have immediate access to the content and video lessons. Please take into consideration that if you need to order supplies, it may take a week or two for them to arrive before you can dive into creating your Florals in Bloom. 

I've listed below some essential supply recommendations, as well as some "nice to have" supplies, but please feel free to start with what you have and grow from there.

PLACES TO LOOK FOR SUPPLIES + PRICE COMPARE:
Amazon, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, local art stores, online art shops

In several cases, I have listed the supply and a resource. However, I am showing the resource for you to get an idea of what the supply looks like and for you to do your own comparison shopping. Again – please do not feel the need to order any of the supplies that I list from these particular suppliers.

Essential Supply List:

  •  In this Online Studio Workshop, I will be using a variety of alcohol inks. Please use whatever brand is easiest for you to purchase. However, Tim Holtz is currently experiencing production issues. I am hopeful that these issues will be resolved shortly. In the meantime, there are several other inks available for you to choose from as listed below. If you are unable to purchase Snow Cap, by Tim Holtz, Pinata Blanco will work.
  •  In addition to Tim Holtz, I use Jacquard Pinata, Copic Various Ink Refills, Zigs Kurecolor, and Art-C Alcohol Inks. Feel free to use any of these brands when creating your masterpieces.
  •  Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Blending Solution or Isopropyl Alcohol (91% or 99%). I use blending solution because I like how the inks glide with the blending solution. There are several DIY videos online to demonstrate how to make your own blending solution.
  •  Canned Air (any brand will work and can be found at any office supply retailer) — If you do not like using canned air and would rather use an air compressor or even a straw that is absolutely fine.


BRUSHES

  •  I love the Royal & Langnickel SG 700 ¾ Flat Brush; however, feel free to use any flat brush. Watch the videos where I use a brush and this will help you decide what works best for you.
  •  I am using brush work with both alcohol inks and acrylics. You will need to keep these brushes separate. Clean your alcohol ink brushed in alcohol; clean your acrylic brushes in water.
  •  Cheap brushes that I will use for masking fluid.
  •  Several small watercolor brushes for our Iris. You could use these watercolor brush pens which can be filled with alcohol inks, as well.
  •  I use a foam brush for applying Gesso in one of my pieces. These are available at any arts and crafts store, or here on Amazon.


PAPERS/SUBSTRATES

  •  Blackout Modeling Film, which can be found at Stamper's Anonymous in the U.S. and at Shades of Clay in Canada. I use black, but they have white, so you might want to try them both.

  • Important to note: You do not need to use Blackout Modeling Film. Any black glossy substrate will work or, if you do not want to work on black, create your pieces on white. If you like black but are unable to purchase Blackout Modeling Film, Paper Accents makes a black glossy card stock that can be found at many art supply stores. In addition, black vinyl also makes a terrific surface for the inks. You could also work with black canvas sprayed with Rustoleum Triple Thick. Most art supply stores will have a black surface for you to work with for your inks. Blackout Modeling Film is new and many students were curious about the film which is the sole reason for using it in my demonstrations. What I am teaching you is technique; it is up to you to find the best prices and materials that will work for you.

  • Yupo Paper - any weight will do. However, for our tracing needs, you will either need translucent Yupo or Duralar. I am sharing a link to Dick Blick just to show you the various weights of Yupo.
  •  Ampersand Gessobord or Claybord - I used a 14 x 18 piece of Gessobord, but feel free to use any size that feels comfortable to you.
  •  Canvas - In one of my final pieces, I use an 18 x 24 piece of canvas to create Midnight Beauty. Even if the canvas states that it already has gesso on the surface, you need to make this really smooth for the inks. If you want to paint on canvas, watch the video and see if you have a desire to both paint on canvas and paint big! For this piece, I am only using the inks to create a background. There are several options to prepare the surface: 1) You could use Kilz2 Paint Primer (found at any hardware store) - at least two coats. 2) Rustoleum Triple Thick sprayed twice on the canvas also works to provide a surface for the inks. 3) Gesso - at least a couple of coats of gesso.


ACRYLIC PAINTS

  •  I will be using soft body and heavy body acrylic paints. Feel free to use whatever brand that is within your price range. You could always thin down your heavy body acrylics paints. There are several brands: Golden, Liquitex, Basics – pick out colors that you like and have fun! I definitely use Titanium White to touch up a lot of my floral pieces. This is a color that you should definitely purchase.


GESSO

  •  For Floral Ballerina, I use Yellow Gesso as a foundation for my painting. All arts and crafts stores should carry Gesso.
  •  Masking Fluid - This can be found at any arts and crafts store.


SEALERS


PENS


PASTELS

  •  In Midnight Garden Beauty I use pastels at the very end. It is not necessary at all, but you may want to try. You can only use oil pastels ON TOP OF ACRYLIC, not under acrylics. Again, watch the video and see if this is something you want to try. If you bought Gelatos, these would work, too.

Optional "Nice to Have" Supplies:

GELATOS

  •  In one of my pieces, Dancing Queen, I use Gelatos (NOT Italian ice cream, but water-soluble crayons) to create a little color. However, please know that this is not at all necessary to purchase. You could just use some Posca Pens to make the dots. Watch my video and decide for yourself what tool you have nearby that might work. If you do not have Gelatos, then just use some good colored pens to make the colored dots.

BOOK

  •  If you are completely new to florals and want to learn a step-by-step approach, I demonstrate how to make florals, fill in the florals with ink, and use acrylics to create a beautiful piece from this book: How To Draw Modern Florals: An Introduction To the Art of Flowers, Cacti, and More. I suggest watching this series of videos to see if this book would be an ideal resource for you.

WATER-SOLUBLE WAX AND ENCAUSTIC WAX

  •  Ceracolor Water Soluble Wax and R & F Encaustic Wax. In a few of the pieces, I will be incorporating Ceracolor Water Soluble Wax. This, again, is not a necessity, but I included in this workshop to show how to use these waxes. If you are interested, please watch the videos and decide if this is a product you want to try. I am a big fan of R & F Encaustic Waxes as well as Enkaustikos Wax. These are pricey and using encaustic wax will necessitate a heating tool, as well. Again, before purchase, please watch the videos and decide if this is an expense you would like to incur. You do have Lifetime Access, so perhaps this is something you want to try out in the future.

In time you may find you love particular brands or products more than others. The workshop includes a supplies video where I walk you through the supplies I love and will be using in the demonstrations.

ARE YOU A CANADIAN ARTIST?

For our Canadian friends, Shades of Clay is the best resource for all of your supplies. Wendy, from Shades of Clay, has received the supply list for this class and will do her best to make sure the supplies are available. In the meantime, please see a resource list for Shades of Clay here.

A Warm Welcome

HI THERE! I'M ALEXIS BONAVITACOLA.

I'm an artist, teacher, entrepreneur, and passionate human being dedicated to leading a purposeful life. I specialize in abstract art, especially the energy, motion, and flow of alcohol inks. I have 20 years as an educator, hold a Ph.D. in education, love teaching students of all levels, and taking my art to new levels. I believe in the value of sharing our talents and giving back to inspire others to grow. I look forward to being your instructor and sharing in your artistic journey.

Start your journey with Florals in Bloom:
Alcohol Inks and Mixed Media for only $77

Register Now