Here I go again...

This is the line art for my next painting. I never thought much about painting flowers but here I go again. I have painted some portraits and a few still lifes, which I love to paint, but I seem to be on a roll with the flowers.

This is on a quarter sheet of 140lb. Arches watercolor paper which is what I use most of the time.

I still have to adjust the petals in a few places. In the main photo I am working from it is difficult to tell exactly how some of the petals curl, so I am studying several photos to determine some of those correct shapes.

Hope!

I like to believe there is still hope for this painting! Each one I have worked on has reached this awkward stage. When I began working in watercolor I would have been tempted to throw this under the bed BUT I have learned that if I push forward one step at a time I usually end up with a finished piece that I am happy with...usually.

This shows the yellow washes on the leaves. I used New Gamboge in the foreground, Aureolin in the background.

Showing some of the detail added as underpainting. As I add washes these will blend in somewhat and be less noticeable.

Close up of leaf detail. The colors are not as intense as they appear in this photo.

Friends

This is a value study for what will probably be my next painting. I am usually working on at least two at any time.

The photo for this sketch, along with the title, is on WetCanvas .