Summer flowers
When else to use live flowers as a model if not in summer when everything is in full bloom and getting more beautiful by hour? Although, we’ve been hit by a heat wave, there’s plenty to paint outdoors and indoors. I won’t write a long text this time because pictures will display the painting steps I use and also probably inspire somebody to get a brush, pencil and watercolor paper. There you have it: I’m presenting pink and purple summer flowers with painting steps.
Petunias
Petunias are usually in every garden. The pink and purple petunia painting is more abstract. I do usually create a drawing on a separate paper for reference and not to damage the watercolor paper with erasing anything. I transfer my drawing onto watercolor paper using daylight on a glass door and how it perfectly shines through even thick watercolor paper.
Watercolor paper
Watercolor paper is one of the most important aspects of watercolor painting. I started Bright petunias believing that I was using Arches watercolor paper. After a while, I realized it didn’t work like Arches. If you have painting experience, you know that Arches facilitates beautiful washes and easy flow of paint. It is possible to lift paint also. I discovered that this sheet came from leftover Saunders-Waterford paper. Some 10 years ago, it used to be a good paper, but it gradually became worse and worse, and the last batch they sent me was so bad, that I will simply never buy any Saunders-Waterford paper again.
Washes with big brushes
I always start with basic washes which I am applying to wet paper. Any cotton paper needs to be wet in areas which you intend to work on, except for fine details which we add at the end. Then I gradually build the shadows and shapes using multiple layers of paint. My pictures show how unsuitable the paper actually is. The only plus is it doesn’t buckle; therefore, I don’t have to tape it down as with cheap watercolor papers.
Paints and brush
I always use round brush with fine tip, size 14. I always use large brushes as long as possible for they hold a lot of water and pigment, yet allow getting extra fine edges and lines, too. I switch to number 6 round brush with fine tip only at the end when I need some tiny elements painted. I always use St. Petersburg original and authentic watercolor paints. I’ve never had better paints so far and I have tried very many. I’d give the second place Da Vinci paints, but they don’t sell them any longer at my art store. St. Petersburg paints have all the best qualities of watercolor paint thanks to the manufacturing process and raw materials.
Bright petunias
The result could be smoother, but for an abstracted painting, it works. I use colors intuitively and carelessly actually and lots of water. For color testing, I am making use of extra sheet of cheaper watercolor paper because it shows the exact color I will have.
Morning pansy
For Morning pansy, I followed exactly the same steps. I’m creating drawing, transferring drawing to paper, making paper wet around the central flowers, starting with applying paint around the main part and allowing it to dry before I move on and start putting paint on flower. Then, I create leaves. The entire painting requires going over and over some parts. At the end I’m adding water drops. In the base of every single painting are the same principles: want impact, create values. Color to me is always secondary and I use that color which I prefer at the moment.
Result
Inspiration
I think that could inspire you to paint your own summer flowers, but I will sell later drawing templates on this website. My art is always based on drawings and I like it that way. Such art reveals progress and refinement of my personal style. I’ve done abstract watercolors, too, but they seem to be way too simple and never a real challenge. I love tricky things and exploration of effects and somewhat realistic art allows me doing that.
Note: Please, respect my copyrights, and since these particular painting steps are not intended for copying, use your own drawing, but apply process and advice.
Art prints, all my paintings which I have uploaded to Fine Art America:
Fascinating! I love seeing how your paintings come together, layer by layer.
Thank you very much! Painting is easy, it’s just so that sometimes I get tired of that particular subject. I love how the contrast in pancy and the flow in petunias came out.
Lovely!
Thanks Natinka!
What lovely inspiration! Thank you.
I hope it helps to put you in a creative mood.
It really gets many likes in Facebook art groups, especially, watercolor.
I’m happy I have reached a stage in painting when I can paint anything exactly as I want and it happens easy and paint simply flows out of the brush.
Have a good time this summer, hopefully, everything is fine at your place and with you.
Thanks very much for this lovely step-by-step post . I think I might try St Petersburg watercolours – I’m ready for an upgrade ! And I deserve better brushes too . I love the abstract look in the background of your beautiful paintings. There’s lots of inspiration here for us , Inese.
Thanks! Try to get rather larger size paints and fewer is ok because you can mix up what you do not have.
I bought all of this during my trips to Latvia at an art store they have over there. I used to go every year, but I can ask my daughter to send me over things I really need.
In Europe, painting supplies seem to be better, and they are definitely less expensive. I suppose, art supplies in Canada are the most expensive when I compare with other countries.
Brush matters a lot, that’s why I use this large number 14 with very fine tip. They wear down, but last in average for about 6-8 months depending on how much one paints.
Good luck!
Awesome! Do you teach online?
Thanks Victoria! I’m sort of getting to that point, but haven’t gotten there yet.
My art is based on drawing, and , realistically, the better somebody’s drawing is, the better their realistic painting will be. That refers to realistic and somewhat realistic art.
There is a reason I’m not that much rushing to teach online. Learning is work with oneself. During many years of teaching art classes, I have observed that an absolute beginner needs a lot of direct assistance.
Nowadays, everybody is teaching and painting, it’s just so that all of it is mostly beginner’s level.
St. Petersburg watercolors are still the best, if you ever go back home, I’d strongly encourage to buy paints and sable-type of brushes, especially large size. They work like magic. Then you need good paper and then you just follow the steps. To get to the moment when one applies paint courageously takes a lot of playing around with paint, and eventually, it’s possible to understand how paint, paper and image work.
I certainly intend to teach online, but with all the stuff indoors and outdoors I haven’t been able to make time for it yet.
I always encourage everyone to check out what value drawing is, I have them on this website; and try to create some. That is the base for any somewhat realistic (not animated or flat) painting.
Thank you for all your tips and ideas; we all need some instructions for sure, your posts are very helpful!
Thanks! I hope it will work out that way.
This was nice if you to take the time for a tutorial – and love the flowers you chose
Thanks! It’s not a complete tutorial, but the full form of it and similar ones will be available after a while. There will be pictures showing frontal view of painting steps.
I suppose, for people, who just are really into it, it’s helpful.
I chose flowers which are most often around in my place. I don’t have any exotic varieties, but still nice flowers.
I’m happy that vegetables are coming soon, as well. Still life is a great way to start painting.
Have a good Sunday! I was just thinking of you today, and didn’t follow up on that thought yet.
I was thinking of you recently too – and glad to connect via blogs this weekend
Our veggies are just starting to come up here too
Have some nana peppers, one green pepper – but no tomatoes or zucchini quite yet …
I am busy outdoors, too, we had really long heat wave and it was terribly dry. I had to water garden plants a few times a day.
I have all kinds of lettuce, greens, herbs, zucchini, cucumbers just starting to form, so are peas and a few small tomatoes have shown up. Absolutely no peppers yet. We had late spring. I start everything, also tomato and cucumber, obviously green onion, parsley, dill, everything from seeds, they take a while, but plants are much stronger. I wrote about that on other blog https://inesepogalifeschool.com/
It’s nice for sure to exchange a few words here and there. I hope you are healthy and fine.
Things are good – my step- daughter had a second child so we now have a second grandchild – so exciting and he was born in May – during a pandemic – and we are glad is health and so is momma
–
I will
Check out the link you gave and my brother also prefers seeds for all
Plants –
Have a good day and sending a smile your way
Exciting news! Small babies are so much fun, especially, if you are not the mother.
I smiled before I even read the message.
Have a great week ahead of you!
Thanks Inese
Wishing you the same
This is simply WOW! I am speachless how beautiful your flowers are. Admire and love your art, Inese!
Thanks very much Vika! Well, it’s a good subject with natural contrast.
It took me quite many years to get in a painting exactly what I want.
Sometimes, however, watercolor paper can be of bad quality, even though, it comes from a good brand. I have some paintings which simply didn’t work because paper wasn’t right.
In this case, everything worked as intended and I agree that this pansy painting is very attractive with its contrast, flow of color and line.
The more I paint the more I appreciate materials. Your painting brings beauty and inspiration 🙂
Without the right tools, it’s impossible to do anything. I know how people watch on YouTube some demo and if they do not have Arches, the thick and heavy Arches, where demo is done on it, one can do whatever they want, but the result just won’t be similar. It’s because watercolor paint and water sit on top of thin papers, but travel through fibers of thick and cotton papers. Very big difference.
One day, I will try Arches as well. So far I paint on Canson, which is far away from a common, even thick paper. I still appreciate the difference, knowing there remain steps to higher level. have something to look forward.
However, I kept in mind the sable brushes you mentioned recently, and ordered one to try 🙂 It should arrive on Monday, hopefully.
I know some of my students have been using Canson paper and I think we used it for pen and watercolor, Xl, and for pen and watercolor it’s great because it’s easy to draw with pen and good enough for washes on top.
I used Saunders-Waterford paper about 10 years ago and it was good, but I didn’t like it one small bit later. I’ve tried Fabriano and it worked when I put it or stretched over bars creating canvas, and it worked real well, but I didn’t like it all when just painting simply. Which Arches to use also depends on style and subject. I use cold press from any brand and sometimes rough for landscapes. I personally prefer larger size paintings, but have some smaller, too. Large is impact and it’s way easier to paint.
Good brush is great to have. I mostly paint with that one size 14. It has very fine tip and that way I can use this brush in many ways. Some people use only flat brush, and I use only flats and Filberts for acrylic, but prefer round with fine tip for watercolor.
I think material choices are very individual and very personal, but one cannot go wrong with high quality materials.
They are expensive here in Canada, way more expensive than in Europe. I’m not sure when I go to Latvia now with this virus and all, but I buy most of watercolor stuff, except, paper in Latvia when I visit.
so pretty. even just the steps are gorgeous! Would you be so kind as to guest blog post for my site? if you’re so inclined, here’s a link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
Thanks! I will have to think about that.
We are starting the renovation tomorrow morning, I’m not sure how big of disturbance it will be, I hope I can use the big computer, but it’s unknown yet. There will be lots of dust and noise and dirts. It’s not going to be easy.
I have to leave such things for maybe October.
anytime is great
Some time later for sure, this mess here is interrupting me a lot, so many things need to be done, including garden.