Floral watercolor Journal Entries

3 creative works found

• "Reaching for the Sky" is Featured in Still Life and Florals
  by Pat Yager

  I want to express my appreciation for this new feature, to the hosts of Still Life and Florals! It is always an honor, and at the same t…

  I want to express my appreciation for this new feature, to the hosts of Still Life and Florals! It is always an honor, and at the same time a humbling experience, as I know there are so MANY artists who are also very deserving of a feature. Thank you! – Pat

• Amazing!!!
  by Alpha Shanahan

  Last night, i spent a good chunk of time downloading some artwork, and wow, i just felt amazed as i read the nice responses. I also got i…

  Last night, i spent a good chunk of time downloading some artwork, and wow, i just felt amazed as i read the nice responses. I also got into others’ watchlists! Thanks so much! And most of all, i got a very wonderful bubblemail. It’s great to receive feedback about my work. All comments are welcome, friends. I have never been connected to an artists’ community before, and i am sure glad i joined this one. Great!!!

• Ah Sunflowers
  by andrewgillette

  “Ah Sunflowers” Ah Sunflower, weary of time, / Who countest the steps of the sun; / Seeking after that sweet golden clime / Where the tra…

  “Ah Sunflowers” Ah Sunflower, weary of time, / Who countest the steps of the sun; / Seeking after that sweet golden clime / Where the traveller’s journey is done; Where the Youth pined away his desire, / And the pale virgin shrouded in snow, / Arise from their graves, and apire / Where my Sunflower wishes to go! -William Blake THE METHOD: The photograph I took was beautiful: two bright sunflowers under the noon sun, standing proudly in front of three slats of a wooden fence. I considered painting the composition exactly as it was in the photograph, but I thought against it. It was good, but perhaps seemed a little…. ordinary. I stared at the photograph for a considerable time, then I decided the direction I wanted to take. I employ tight, controlled technique to create bright, realistic, sunlit flowers, and then give the paint much more freedom for a bright purple background. I added a bumblebee to the mix to give the painting a little more interest, and to give the flowers a little more purpose. I intended the painting to contrast several things. Purple, loose background with yellow, tightly controlled flowers. For the flowers themselves, I used yellow, greens, browns, and touches of Thalo Crimson, with green for any shadowing I needed. For the background, I let bold, wet washes of Prussian Blue and Thalo Crimson interact, occasionally applying thick Crimson straight to the paper with a dry brush, and sometimes spritzing the painting with a spray bottle, or adding salt to create a more interesting texture. Finally, I used a wire brush to throw some random, blue flecks on the paper. I didn’t mix any colors on the palette, but layered washes of pure color directly on the paper. I hope that others find this as pleasing to look at as I found it to paint, and I always welcome comments of any kind!