Final Product (?)

 

Poppies at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach
10" x 10" watercolor
Arches 100% cotton hot press paper

Earlier this week I posted preliminary notes and sketches I made in preparation for this painting. This final painting is not what I envisioned, but I have taped it to the wall of my studio, and it's growing on me. The oranges are a tad brighter in the actual painting, but not as bright as in my color study. 

I think I'm calling this one done unless it tells me otherwise. 

Poppy Process

 

Poppy Study
8" x 8" watercolor 

So it's poppy season in Northern California, and that means new poppy paintings in the works. My process, for better or worse, seems to be shifting somewhat. 

Instead of starting right in on a painting, I've gravitated to making initial sketches that show values and colors in a spiral-bound notebook full of drawing paper. I make notes about the sketch. See the initial sketch-with-notes below. 

Second stage is a quick color study such as the above, usually in a sketchbook with watercolor paper. Sometimes the quick color study makes me decide not to proceed with a stand-along painting; other times, it gives me fuel for going for it. This color study does give me the fuel I need to move forward.

Sometimes I find I like the quick color study better than the finished painting. 

Stay tuned and wish me luck. I'd sure like a stand-alone 10"x 10" painting to accompany the canna painting I finished last week.  

Finally

 

Canna Show

10" x 10" watercolor

Arches 100% cotton cold press

I have tried painting this scene several times over the past few years. Cannas and begonias near Millenial Park, Chicago. The orange and red flowers next to the bright yellow-greens of the canna leaves stopped me in my tracks and made me sing inside. I think I finally captured the melody in my heart that day. 

Good Neighbors

 

Last month I was in Iowa, house-sitting for a relative and visiting my elderly mother. I'm thankful for the good neighbors who helped scoop me out of two snowstorms--in sub-zero temps, no less. I captured their lovely home the day after one of those storms. I hope it helps them know how much they're appreciated.  

One More Time

 

Dahlia2, Golden Gate Park
10" x 10" watercolor
on Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

After I sent Canadian watercolorist Marney Ward the completed dahlia painting I'd finished while taking her class (see link or see below), she sent me such a generous and detailed critique that I felt motivated to try a different version.

She felt I'd been too heavy handed with the shadows and that I didn't have enough yellow on the sun-kissed petals. Therefore my color palette was on the cooler side, rather than warmer. Overall, she wanted me to take a more nuanced approach. She did like what I'd done with the center except for the too-dark shadows. She thought more orange there, rather than the darker browns and blues, might be helpful.

So here it is: another version. I do think it's better--warmer and more nuanced--though it still looks a tad unfinished to me. We'll see what happens after it's been on the wall of my studio for a few more days. 

I think I recognize I'll never want to be as detailed/realistic as Marney Ward--I just don't have the patience or inclination, really. But I did learn some things about using contrast for luminosity and lighter washes for transparency. 

Thank you, Marney Ward. 

(Previous version below.)

Orchid
8" x 8" watercolor
Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

Trying to channel Marney Ward again. I still have miles to go, but she did give me some pointers that helped this along. She encourages working from photos with backlighting, to help convey a luminescent quality. 

Baby steps.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
6" x 9" ink and watercolor
on Stonehenge 100% cotton hot press paper

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies2
6" x 9" ink and watercolor
on Stonehenge 100% cotton hot press paper