August Daylilies

This is the beginning of my daylily watercolor - playing with colors and blowing them around with a straw before getting down to the detailed darkest parts of the flowers.  This time, I'm working from photographs because daylilies, true to their name, only last a day.  So, a daylily bouquet would change dramatically every day.

The second stage of the painting involves filling in the mid and light reds in the flowers and testing out some background colors and values.

Now, things are getting more interesting.  It looks a bit like an explosion at this stage, but I like it!

Finally, the details of the flowers and buds, the leaves and stems and the simplification of the values in the background with a suggestion of the reds of the daylilies thrown in for good measure.

"August Daylilies"

watercolor - 9" x 12"

The finished painting brings me joy.  I look forward to enjoying it when the snow flies - a wonderful memory of summer....

A Rainy Day

My friend, Sandy, came to visit this week and our plan was to go out and paint plein aire but the weather didn't co-operate.  Yesterday, we were watching an inch and a half of rain falling as we set up to paint on the kitchen island.
My husband had given me a bouquet of sunflowers the day before and so it became our focus.  We painted a bit, chatted a bit, went out for lunch and by afternoon this is what showed up on my paper...

"August Sunflowers"

watercolor - 9" x 12"

I am so happy with my little sunflower watercolor and it has motivated me to get back to prioritizing time in the studio, out painting plein aire and even, occasionally, painting in the kitchen!  Thank you so much, Sandy, for jump starting my work!