Foxgloves in watercolour demonstration

 Each new month brings a flower that I feel I must paint. Snowdrops started in February, March embraced Golden  Daffodils, Tulips and Iris  jostled for attention in April and of course Bluebells filled all of May. June is the month of Foxgloves and slightly overlapping into July. Simply because they are still out in bloom, swaying gently on the Lakeland fells.

Materials 

Saunders Waterford Not 200lbs

Opera Rose

Permanent Rose

Cobalt Turquoise

Winsor Blue

Winsor Yellow

Masking Fluid

I started with an outline sketch and added Masking fluid to preserve the white of the paper for highlights on the flowers.

The paper was  dampened softly around the Foxgloves. Using a pale tonal value of Opera Rose the perfect shade for Foxgloves, Stronger tones are added for the Flower heads. Clean water was dropped into the centre of the flowers to create more depth.

Cobalt Turquoise added softly around the flowers for foliage is left to merge softly into the background.

By painting the negative shapes around the foxgloves with Strong tonal values, the flowers will emerge magically. Winsor Blue and Permanent Rose mixed together create a wonderful strong tone, adding Cobalt Turquoise will vary the shades. Permanent Rose was used to shape the inside of the trumpet flower.

The flowers are beginning to take shape by painting the background. Winsor Yellow with a touch of Winsor Blue mixes to a variety of shades of transparent Green ideal for leaves and foliage. Learning to paint  negative shapes for leaves produces lighter tonal values and a softer approach.

Foxgloves in watercolour

Final stage : Masking fluid was removed when the paint was dry to reveal highlights. Splashes and splatters can be added for the inside of the flowers and help to bring life and texture to the painting. Some areas are left soft and not detailed this helps to give the painting a restful feel.

For more watercolour online courses 

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Starting in Watercolour

I love painting in watercolours. There is no other medium that is such a joy, when watching paint dry. It creates magic in front of your eyes. Knowing what colours mix well together, and other ingredients you can add is just like a favourite recipe. Picking the subject, you are never stuck for inspiration. I find what you love is what you paint best.

I've being painting in watercolours for over 25 years and learn something new on every painting. I love to pass this knowledge on to people who want to start painting again. I know that it will open eyes to new colours in the sunset sky or the shape and texture of a tree or just the pure beauty of fresh flowers.

My online course is ideal to get you painting again, taking each project slowly with personal feedback, and extra tips on each painting. There are three courses with six projects in all. Each course is £55.00 which includes a material list, sketches, colour tags and easy step by step instructions. Each course has no time limit, so be as quick or slow as you like.

Anybody can paint in watercolours with just a few tips and techniques to get you going and gaining confidence, and it will open up a whole new world of colour.

Lakeland Sketchbook

A few photographs from a damp day in the Lakes.

 You may think it's not as inspiring as a glorious sunny day. Students often feel deflated when they see the rain and think I am crazy taking them out on location, but I think it can be much more dramatic and certainly atmospheric.

So here I sat, just out of the gale force wind, blowing fiercly down the lake. The Launch had been cancelled due to adverse conditions. I had to hold onto everything and time was the essence. But how uplifting it is to paint against the weather, it was just a quick sketch, and so enjoyable. Not quite a Turner and fastened to the mast, but I do love to see wild conditions rather than a Blue sunny day. Mind there is nothing quite like sitting in the warm sunshine with the lake gently lapping at your feet!

Not Sunflowers! Fancy having a go at both of these with a watercolour base and a little pastel.
I'll keep you posted.

 Learn to paint watercolours on my online watercolour course with lots of personal feedback with each project www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

Favourite Winter photographs

It's getting to that time of the year. I'm starting to feel festive so thought I would share some of my favourite Winter photo's with you in the run up to Christmas. You can also see them daily on my
Jane Ward facebook page 

 

Grasmere  Winter walk

 

Driving back through a snowstorm from Kendal to Keswick. Suddenly the clouds disappeared and a Winter wonderland appeared. Realizing that I didn't have my trusty camera. I quickly drove back to Keswick and returned to Grasmere. A very quick walk of a few miles hoping that the snow did not disappear. And this photo was worth it. I use it loads for inspiration. Hope you like it too.

 

 

 

Smiley face and  Blencathra.
Castlerigg is one of those places that is stunning any time of the year, but for those that love Snow, totally special covered in fresh snow. I have a few photographer friends and one got straight in touch when he saw this' Is it snowing at Castlerigg' were his words.

 

First stage Oil on paper

 

This was the Castlerigg stone circle sketch, I promised you in the last post.

But with snow falling I couldn't resist painting this scene above Keswick. It's only had it's underpainting and as a little way to go yet.

 

 The Online watercolour course a perfect gift for Christmas for budding artists of all ages