BETTER

 Tried to make the photo match the real life painting more (the previous photo was too warm all over).  Added some darks here and there to make it better.  

GOUACHE ON PAPER

 

A small painting using gouache (except for watercolor background) on Arches 140# cold press paper.  Just using a different medium to play for a while.  Other than a bit more darks in the leaves close to the pod, it’s done.  

BETTER?

 

After the experimentation with the background, I chose this purple color and went with it.  Changed the top to a branch, too, to make it more natural.  Not done yet - I made sure I had a light hand with the green of the chrysalis itself and will go back in and glaze darker areas over and then put in the yellow/gold.

I like it better so far but think I could have gone even darker in the background.  This may be just one of those paintings you never like, no matter what?

WHEN IT TURNS OUT UGLY....?

I started this painting of a monarch butterfly’s chrysalis.  Ruined it.  Threw it away.  Started another.  This is what I ended up with.  Hated it.  Thought about why it wasn’t working for me = background color choice?  Maybe.  So...thought about purples and reds behind the chrysalis instead (darker, too).  

I experimented with a few colors I have.  Knew right away the dark purple on the left top was what I wanted.  Sometimes you just have to start over.

You can see that ANY of the darker background  colors makes this little green thing stand out more so...

Will the third time be the charm?

We shall see!  

FINISHED

 

Darkened the wooden slats and the background, then added some dark interest in the petals.  

Done.

ANOTHER STEP OR TWO

 

Slowly, slowly.

Need to straighten the top wooden slat as that bothers me.  

ORCHIDS - STEP 2 OR 3

Next steps in the painting of the orchids.  Nothing special, just trying to shape the blossoms after doing the wooden “scaffolding” and the dark stems.  

I am positive, now, that the pinks and the background colors are too sweet so will darken the background - maybe just glaze over it with cobalt blue or a mix of darker blues.