Sunflowers - continued

I had a little more time today, in between the housework and cooking! I'm trying to keep it loose and fresh, while the pencil lines are there, they are only a guide.

Roses are.... orange?

Another catch-up, I find roses incredibly difficult to paint but every so often I challenge myself. This apricot/orange rose was one of many gorgeous flowers in Bodnant Gardens, North Wales, and I had to try painting it.

Antidote to winter

On these long, dull, cold winter days I look for something to cheer me up, and that usually means painting a bright flower. This time it's a sunflower, from one of my own reference images.

I started out by sketching the outline then masking a few highlights. Once the masking fluid was completely dry I quickly wet the paper using a large brush - doing it quickly leaves a few dry areas which will stay white when pigment is added.

Here it is after the first pass - Azo yellow and gamboge wet in wet.


Now the individual petals need form, more wet in wet but one at a time, using azo yellow, gamboge and quinacridone coral.


I'm excited about this one, but life always gets in the way so this is all I've managed to do today - very frustrating!

Something new!

I don't claim to be a great portrait artist - I struggle with getting a likeness, I much prefer the freedom I get from painting flowers! But, in the interest of improvement, I had a go at painting my youngest daughter, Katy.

Not content with the challenge of painting a portrait, I then chose a reference where Katy was smiling, all teeth! I'm mad!

After a week of stress, I'm done.

Purple or Pink?

Echinacea, commonly known as purple coneflowers but they're usually a lovely, cheerful shade of pink! This was alot of fun to paint.

Purple Cone Flowers, watercolour, 14 x 10 inches

Original available for sale, contact me by email for details.

Simply Summer!

This, to me, is what summer is all about - beautiful flowers and blue skies! It's pretty much my favourite painting from last year.

Giant Daisies, 14 x 20 inches.

Trying again!

I've been pretty useless at this regular blogging thing, I'll try to do better.

I suppose this should be a catch up - I've done a fair amount of work over the last few months, some good, some not. Now where to start? Well I finished my second attempt at Summer Sorbets, and this was much better than the first!

I suppose it would be sensible to post one every day, so you'll have to wait for the next ;)