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Phyllis Rennie
06-15-2000, 08:04 PM
<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/User/Iris-combo.JPG" border=0>

Hope you can see this. It's the beginning of a painting (oil 14 x11) of an iris in my garden called Camelot Rose. The falls are very dark purple, the standards are a pale, flesh pink, and the beard is orange. The bloom time overlaps the bloom time of the foxgloves which I am including behind the iris.

I blocked in the shapes while sitting on my deck--which put the blooms at eye level. The garden and yard beyond are up a steep hillside (house is near the bottom of the hill), but I did not want to depict it the way it actually is. Rather, I wanted to show the flowers against the sky. My thought was to include distant mountains. But----not sure about the location, size, etc. that I've started with.

Red line defines top of mountains.
Blue line--base of mountains where they meet flat land.
White--outlines top portion of iris blossoms.
Green lines are suggestions of stems and leaves.

Should I make the mountains higher in the painting?
Lower?
Move up the base (blue Line) to make the mountains smaller and the grassy area deeper?
or:
forget it altogether and just do a nondescript sort of background--which would probably eliminate the outdoors feel.

All suggestions will be happily considered. Thanks. Phyl

tammy
06-15-2000, 11:34 PM
Wow, an iris. I did one years ago in acrylic but it was just on a colored background. I dont' have any suggestions but I'd love to see this when you finish. I found it quite a challenge and your's against the sky may be even more of one. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome for mine. One of my co-workers has possession of my painting. I hope this painting works well for you. I can't wait.

Phyllis Rennie
06-16-2000, 03:21 PM
Thanks, Tammy for the enthusiasm! I'm not too worried about the flowers--usually they don't give me much trouble. And I've painted both irises and foxgloves in the past--just not together. Landscapes, however, I haven't been too successful with. I think because I try to include the whole continent. So I'm trying to set flowers in a more limited landscape. Phyl

Rod
06-16-2000, 03:58 PM
I think it is a great idea,
Just my thoughts, you have a landscape scene coupled with flowers. I would leave the backgound exactly as it is which will give depth to the painting, but lower the flower arrangement slightly so the lower leaves overlap the distant hills,link the two together more,
Rod

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Watercolours from New Zealand (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/rod/)

sandge
06-16-2000, 04:48 PM
Great potential there! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
I agree with Rod. If the painting is about the flowers, keep the rest very simple.
Might be tempted to move the main flowers right a bit, as they are a bit central.
Looking forward to seeing the result.
best wishes
sandra

CarlyHardy
06-16-2000, 05:03 PM
So little of the mountains will be showing that you may not know what they are after the flower is all painted in.

Try this....paint the background loosely..just the sky, the mountains (keeping them light)and some of the background that will appear in the foreground. Cut out the shape of your flowers (any paper will do) and lay them over the background and see what happens)

I love irises. Took some photos this spring of several that bloom in a friends garden. If you would like photos of other colors..let me know and I'll send them to you.
carly

Phyllis Rennie
06-16-2000, 08:06 PM
Ok--so it stays a landscape!!! Hope to have time to work on it tomorrow--at least a little bit. Thanks for the suggestions.

C....if you want to send photos of irises, I'd love to see them. They're one of my favorite flowers--if I could pick a favorite.