I have been “fiddling” with different ways of painting flowers etc., from the garden just quickly and for a little light relief. I knuckled down earlier in the week to complete a recent commission, which was quite exacting. I am not posting it up on the blog as it is a “suprise” anniversary present for someone and I would hate it to be seen beforehand.
Here I have put in a background, which I don’t often do. I missed to get the delicacy of the sweetpea petals in this. However, I was quite pleased with the vase, which has an intricate raised pattern coming down the body. it was done in the evening indoors under artificial light and the shadow was coming from all directions which was a big mistake! I put a computer filter on the second one to give a different feel. I can see this more as a greetings card design. I don’t know what you think . . . . . ? A bit ” lumpy” ??
Good practice. . . . . and lots to work on.
Illustrated Country Diary 
Different styles indeed. You never cease to amaze me. the one I like msot is the trees, I find trees very tough to paint and doing ti straight without drawing..you KNOW how frightening I find that! Think all three are lovely, but the trees def impress me most. x
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Really, really appreciate your comments Lizzie thank you. Hope you had a productive week at Twigworth – it’s an amazing exhibition 🌺🌺
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I have two favorites: the first one with the bee, and the last one. Really impressive how you capture garden situations. Recently, I tried some plein air painting in the garden and found it to be quite intimidating to choose what goes on the blank square. In the end it was a “flat mess”, no depth, etc. What’s your secret?
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Thanks for the comments. With the garden scene, I used a tiny sponge with darker greens on top of some of the foliage “washes” and a very dark contrast on the shadows particularly under the trees. I think that helps give depth. It was done late afternoon in bright sun so you could see strong shadow shapes. Don’t know if that helps you? 🌺. I am much more in my comfort zone working from photos. I am making an effort to try and loosen up, but you ate right it is very intimidating.
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Thanks for replying. Contrast, that’s it! Just looked at my painting and that is what’s missing.
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As the other reader commented – they are different styles and should be viewed as such. I think different approaches can be used to emphasise your feelings for a subject. The dark background and style gives a solidity which may not be what I associate with sweet peas – but it may be something you want to express. I like to go in with washes that echo and complement the subject, which gives a looseness and then you can cut out shapes of flowers with darker washes but keeping a cohesion between subject and background. Having said that I can just bang in a dark background in a life session to push out a face or part of a body and frequently do. Then I have to ponder the implications of that recklessness.
So perhaps consider the feelings you have about the subject which might lead to the approach you can then take. I dont think there are any rights or wrongs.
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Thanks for your thoughts. I can get very bogged down in detail. So I have been experimenting this week with gouache and ink washes. In that sort of mood at the moment. May post some later.
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