Tuesday, March 02, 2010

another 20-minutes

(Kilimanjaro 6x6)
My poor cyclamen only has one flower, but I'm glad it's still alive: most of my houseplants have not survived the winter.
This is another 20-minute painting. I drew my one flower and a few leaf shapes, then started painting. As I did, I realized I needed something more, so improvised the (not entirely convincing) flower shapes at left; I think now I should have painted them lighter, but at least they're wetter than the "main" flower, which helps push them back.
Even though the leaves are a jumble--I have a phobia about painting cyclamen leaves; not the lovely heart shape, but the pattern on them always messes me up--I'm pleased with the range of greens.
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8 comments:

Teri said...

It is beauteous!!!

Autumn Leaves said...

Another beautiful painting, Laura. Your greens are superb. Mine tend to be too intense or saturated and not at all realistic. Do you wet each area than drop the color in with a brush? Or do you paint wet on wet (whole paper wet at once)? I hope that question made sense. I love watercolors and for whatever reason, they just never look like anyone elses. Always tightly controlled.

A Brush with Color said...

This just sounds like a great exercise. I hope to have some time soon when I can sit and try this. These flowers are stunning, Laura. I love the wetness and bokeh look to the background shapes. Sounds like you do well under pressure!

Brent Perkins said...

A soft, spontaneous expression of watercolor, watercolor at its finest.

Anonymous said...

The range of greens is beautiful and the flowers are juicy!

Cathy Gatland said...

Gorgeous, Laura - I like the idea of soft edges as a means of pushing back. Love your previous 20 minute painting too - somehow I don't even seem to have 20 minutes at the moment but hope to try it soon having seen these great results!

jyothisethu said...

laura,
the paintings are fantastic...
you are using water color with utmost control and sensibility...
the color scheme and composition are fantastic...
congratulations...

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laura,

I think the cyclamen looks beautiful.
They are an unusual shape, and hard to capture, but you've done it. I don't think you need the detail on the leaves. I think of what Skip Lawrence said here. It's not what you see, but what you make. What you make is always something I love to see.

Take care,

Barbara