Saturday, November 5, 2011

Lemons/Hydrangea

























I splurged this week and bought flowers to paint and felt
really excited. I had some great starts where everything flowed
and looked great value-wise and then I started struggling with
color–got too heavy-handed and I was afraid they'd die before
I "got it." I photographed them all to try another day. My
admiration for people who can paint flowers has grown tremendously.
My lesson was that I really needed to focus on subtlety: practice
tiny color & value shifts, experiment with whites, thick and thin
paint and make edges disappear. So wonderful that the challenges
in painting are endless!

This 8 x 10 panel seemed so small when it was white and then so
huge once there was paint on it . . .

16 comments:

carol morgan carmichael said...

Love the abstract feel mixed with the realistic images in this. Your color choices are so nice too!

Jane said...

Luckily we never stop learning, and hopefully never stop wanting to. I love the softness of this painting , probably suggested by the white bowl and the presence of the flower.

Linda Popple said...

Beautiful whites and the shadows are soft and lovely. Love all the background colors. Nice piece! I'm looking forward to seeing your flowers, too!

claire christinel said...

Nice painting Lorriane, and I second your observation about how hard flowers are to paint. Give me a pear any day! Love the subtle shifts you made in the hydrangea.

Susan Roux said...

Lorraine I love the subtleties in this painting. The color changes are soft and muted. Very nice.

Cmichaudart said...

I'll leave the flowers for you!! But I have to agree with others that the colors are wonderfully muted and soft...love the lemons.

hmuxo said...

I really like this one Lorraine. soft and subtle! Beautiful!

Kathy Cousart said...

Beautiful! Love all the colors- soft and gorgeous. I really like the edges and where you have them soft and hard. Masterful. Flowers are tough- especially hydrangeas and you did a wonderful job on these- just lovely!

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Isn't the challenge of edges, thick or thin paint, contrast in value etc. the thing that keeps us all interested in painting day after day? I have to say that is what does it for me. And as you mentioned in your previous post, put away your brushes for a few days and we feel like we are back at the starting line! Wonderful!

Great painting Lorraine, love how you handled the hydrangea. I did a hydrangea this week too, but with a palette knife and have a much different result. You have captured the soft beauty of the bloom.

Laurel Daniel said...

Love the simplicity and color here...

Ruth Andre said...

This is a lovely painting with such softness and light.

Carol Flatt said...

Gosh, Lorraine, if I only could have a slight bit of your great talent! This is wonderful - so many aspects to enjoy! Love the perspective you chose for this!

Lee Smith said...

Beautiful use of complementary colors. It's a very pleasing work of impressionism.

Virginia Floyd said...

This painting is beautiful, Lorraine. As always, rich and layered and wonderful.

Thanks for stopping by to inquire about me. I have been under the weather for quite a while, not feeling much like commenting or painting. I so appreciate your kindness! I did paint a little this week, hope I can get back into the groove soon.

LARA HYE COH said...

I love this painting!
Happy Thanks giving!!
Thank you so much not forgetting me!!
So sorry not posting for a while.
well,How do you think? I couldn't do any real push up before Sep. Now I could do more than 12. I could climb the hill without stopping.
I wish I could see your painting on the gallery wall.
I will post something I am doing lately soon even I feel they are not good enough to show to the whole world. Happy Painting!!

LARA HYE COH said...

I love this painting for your different approach of composition and color. Thank you for not forgetting me. I wish I could visit the gallery to see your paintings on the wall. I didn't have much time to do small paintings this fall. I will post some of my works I have been doing after final. I have to tell you that I am buffed than 10 weeks ago. I couldn't do any real push-up at the beginning. Now 12 to 15!! On Dec 3rd, we are going to hike Mt.Lowe, 10 mls round.
Happy painting!!