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Thursday, April 7, 2016

Narcissus: Emergence - a Step by Step Process ...

My model, growing in a patch by the riding ring.

My drawing [and value idea]

I masked out the flower, and applied a thin, graded wash of quin. gold, let it dry, then did a thin graded wash of phthalo blue.

Another, more intense wash of phthalo blue

The leaves done, using combinations of gold and blue. I didn't want them to overwhelm the painting, so they were done with thin washes.

I started the flower with w/w applications of aureolin in the trumpet and reflected onto some of the petals, and phthalo blue on the shadowed areas of the surrounding petals.  

I intensified the shadows on the petals so they were as close as I could get to the value of the surrounding sky. I wanted to create a lost-and-found look - have them seem to emerge from the paper. I added some shadows around the center of the trumpet with a pink/yellow/blue mixture, let it dry, then glazed with yellow and burnt orange to warm it up.

Some thin blue applied to the perimeter of the trumpet ...

... which you can see better in this close-up.

This is drawing of another narcissus I'd like to start soon. I'll paint this one with different techniques and colors.

Thank you so much for dropping by!!!


13 comments:

  1. As a non-painter I'm always fascinated by the process of creating such beautiful watercolours (acrylics/oils also).

    Its gorgeous already, so delicate and I can almost smell the perfume

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  2. So beautiful! Our mom loved daffodils and any flower in that family. They are so cheerful and pretty!

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  3. Oh I love this time of year... all of the flowers beginning to show themselves... and what a stunning model you had to work from! Gorgeous work! :0)

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  4. I love the background colour! Arianna

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  5. Truly beautiful and all the blue gives it such a fresh look . Always appreciate your step by step ; Do you draw freehanded ? xx

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  6. gorgeous blues :D and very delicate looking flower :)

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  7. Looks so fragile and lovely!I have bought me some Phtalo blue too now. Looking forward trying it soon.

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  8. The sketches alone are so beautiful, Kathryn! And the painting is fabulous, I love the blue in the shadows!

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  9. This time of the year is perfect for you! When I look around the neighborhood I always wish I knew how to paint flowers! Lol......the blues are so beautiful and perfect for the background. Gorgeous flower!

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  10. Beautiful, Kathryn, your delicate touch is perfect.love,Diana

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  11. Oh this flower ia so beautiful! It has come to life!
    love
    tweedles

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  12. “Like silver moons the pale narcissi lay” ― Oscar Wilde, Poems
    Just beautiful!

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  13. Dear Kathryn- this daffodils is a great subject for your wonderful tutorial. The graded washes are superb. Amazing how you used phthalo blue even in the flower. Thank you friend for showing your steps. Have a super day.

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