Saturday, February 27, 2016

Paeonia Step Three

This is a complicated and detailed painting, so I find it easier to jump around in it not painting it in any order.
I think it also helps to achieve a good tonal balance if you lay down the darkest colours early on in the painting. The darkest background colour is a mix of midnight green and neutral tint. The top left hand leaves are painted in sap green, sunlit green and yellow ochre for the stems.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Paeonia Step Two

I am building up the background using a number 4 brush. I am not being too careful where I am placing the paint at the moment, I am just getting a feel for the painting.
You can see the bright blue grip protector around my paint brush. The brushes are quite narrow to hold and make your fingers sore. I find the grip really helps to cushion your fingers.
The colours I am using are sap green and midnight green in quite a dry wash. 

Friday, February 12, 2016

Paeonia Step One

I have drawn out a picture of a Paeonia. I am basing my composition on photographs I took at Ness Botanic Gardens on the Wirral a couple of years ago. 
The flower is bright yellow but it is mainly in a shady spot so it is in shadow.  I want to paint this picture, not for the flowers sake but for the tangle of leaves in shade and sunlight.
I have painted the background with a light wet wash of sunlit green, and have just started to paint sap green on one of the leaves.
 

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Rudbeckia

This watercolour and gouache painting was based on photographs taken at my favourite gardens, Ness Botanic Gardens. I painted it a couple of years ago. 
I thought it would be a good one to post, because it reminds me of summer and sunshine. 
It is mainly painted in watercolour and a small amount of gouache. I felt when it was finished it lacked something, so I added watercolour pencils to the background and flowers. It makes a change to use watercolour pencils, but I still prefer using brushes.