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.

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Daisies and Buttercups in watercolor Demonstration

 

As you know I do at times struggle when painting flowers. I don't know why? They are just shapes and colours no different to anything else!! Well not really I want to give them the delicate form of petals, transparent bright colours and pure beauty. Not an easy task!

Above you can see my preparation of attack.

Saunders Waterford 140lb paper

Winsor Blue, Quinacridone Rose, Winsor Violet, 

Cadmium Yellow and Transparent Yellow

You may notice two little wooden egg cups of pure colour ready to be poured on.

A new tactic, with the help of the waterspray.

 Primary colours of Yellow, Rose and Winsor Blue were allowed to merge freely on the paper. 

Secondary shades of Orange and Green developed. Notice the Daisies had been masked out first and a little light on the Jam Jar to save the white paper.

 Dark tones of Green and Winsor Violet painted in a negative way helped to form the flowers and Jam Jar. Some areas were softened with water.

 More flowers are added thinking of tonal values, I often applied paint and then removed it, then added some real juicy darks to show depth. Transparent Glazes helped to bring flowers forward.Masking was removed when all the paint was dry. Pale shadows helped to shape the Daisies. Most of all I had an afternoon of fun practising new techniques.

Daisies and Buttercups in Watercolour

If you fancy learning  some new techniques and would like to join my online course

send me an email lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk