Real Flames
Step 1
I’ve decided to paint a flaming skull. To do so, I spray a few soft lines freehand with pro-color white, starting at the skull and tapering off towards the back. This step determines the character and dynamics of the flames.
Step 2
Now I use the "Real Flames" stencil to clearly define some curves. This way I can move some of the curves towards the foreground, while the background remains clearly visible. This is how I reach visual depth. Make sure to rotate the stencil once in a while, otherwise you will inadvertently repeat the same flame over and over again. Flames should always look arbitrary, not like a pattern.
Step 3
Be careful not to spray too many curves. Otherwise the flames might look a bit unrealistic. Less is more, in this case.
Step 4
Now I completely spray over my flames with transparent pro-color fire red (1:1 diluted with water). This way the flames will be visually combined with the background. After that I spray some more flames on top of the other ones with pro-color white, slightly offset and with different curves. This way I create yet another level.
Step 5
I gently spray over these new flames with pro-color canary yellow, without penetrating the red flames too much. Finally, I add some highlights to the flames, here and there. The highlights make the flames appear more vibrant and visually generate the fire’s heat. You might want to correct the flames from the outside with some pro-color black.