CHERRIES IN BOWL

Here’s the second step for the cherries using a grisaille underpainting (in Holbein neutral tint), then layering the reds over top after that under color dried completely.

The top part is left on intentionally so you can see what colors I am using throughout the painting.

CHERRIES WITH GRISAILLE UNDERPAINTING

I’ve seen watercolors done with an underpainting of grey and thought I’d try it on these cherries.  Used Holbein neutral tint color as the underpainting for the shadow shapes.  Let that dry completely before layering over with the reds.

I left the top part in the photo to show the colors I will be using as I go along with this.  

So far, so good.  (This is a fourth sheet but is taped off to be more squared when the painting is finished.) 

SWEET MAGNOLIA FINISHED

Did some touching up here and there and shaping the middle, also adding some variety (a bit) in the dark leaf color.  So...done.  This is a half sheet watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paper.

SWEET MAGNOLIA - STEP 3

Almost there - just need to do more shaping and finish the center.

SWEET MAGNOLIA - STEP 2

Step 2 done - the green leaves, the pod, all of the background and the middle part of the flower.  All that’s left to do is the petals and some reshaping (maybe).  This is a half sheet Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper.  I haven’t painted on a half sheet for a long time so felt like getting back to something bigger than normal (have been doing fourth sheets).

The green/yellow background was done wet-in-wet.  The leaves and pod were done some wet-in-wet and some wet on dry paper to get good crisp edges for the white areas.  

Are you painting or drawing or sewing, knitting, etc.?  In these days where it seems there is nothing but bad news and more COVID-19 cases and deaths, it’s hard to be creative.  But it does help us escape into something beautiful for a while.  

SWEET MAGNOLIA - STAGE 1 BACKGROUND

Finally felt like starting another painting.  This one is a magnolia from a photo taken a year or so ago during a visit to Savannah, GA.  

These days, it’s difficult to be inspired by much, but painting does take one away for a while.  I hope we all can find an escape for a while to clear our heads and try to bring something of beauty into the world.  

I have to say, I am not thrilled with the new Blogger updated version - it’s more difficult to use and get what you want to post quickly.  Had to keep trying several times to get the underlining off!  I guess we’ll all get used to it since we will no longer have a choice soon.  

FINISHED, I THINK

The color doesn’t pop as much as the first version but it’s cleaner.

Perhaps more thought to the composition next time?