Flourish

October 25, 2013

Feathers

October 25, 2013

Rose Petals IV

October 25, 2013

Rosebud I

October 25, 2013

Painting Rosebud I

October 23, 2013

Today was the first day I had to turn the heat on, painting this little ( 4 x 4″) rose bud in the cool morning fog.

I painted out a loose gestural outline of the rose on a prepared pink ground.

I blocked in some major highlights and shadows with color.

I blended the tones in the base of the rose and built up the highlights , curving my brush stokes to echo the shape of the petals.

I played up the color reflecting in the shadows which helped to develop a sense of volume and refined the details until the point where I felt there was a balance between lights and darks, angles and form, depth and volume, detail and negative space. A lot going on in 4 square inches!

Hybrid Tea Rose I

October 23, 2013

Rose Mandala IV

October 22, 2013

Lily of the Valley with Cows

September 12, 2013

Fresh Rose

September 11, 2013

It’s like a breath of fresh air to whip up a little rose painting after laboring on a larger work!

Here is how Rose Mandala IV came together – with only a few mishaps along the way.

Opps! Easels often have an adjustable top bar that secures the painting in place but with a painting this small (6 x 6″), I just rest it precariously on the edge and an unexpected jiggle or vigorous brush strokes can send it tumbling. I was relieved it landed “peanut butter side up”!

You’d think I’d have learned my lesson the first time round but not too many minutes later the painting was on it’s second tumble but I caught it quick with the side of my gloved hand. Not the technique I was going for.