Plant Parade Project Jan. 2010

[ams]

Marion, very nice. I actually like the peony and gardenia the best.

Elizabeth, they are both nicely done but I agree that I like the first one best. I've never tried shading with graphite first but it worked well for you.

Dewi, I love the background. It sets off the lovely white flowers.

Maureen, when I saw the ref yo used, I immediately thought "too hard for me!" but you did it beautifully.

Here are my two. Both are 8 x 10, watercolor.

My version of the white peonie,



A white magnolia from the RIL (thanks macdragon, your refs are the best!)



Anne

[oldwomanpainting]

I've been looking forward to the reveal, though mine isnt done yet. Whites are the theme this month in most areas. Snow is the theme in landscapes. It is amazing to me how before I started painting I just saw white, now I see light blue, light purple, light green, light paink ect... and hardly a bit of white if any at all!

Beautiful paintings so far!

[Signchick]

I am in awe of what you all have done!!! White is hard!

I did this in so many stages. Then, I had a hard time photographing it without it being more blue. I finally scanned it, tho it wouldn't all fit in the scanner.

White Jonquils - 9" x 12" Acrylic on Ampersand Aquabord Panel.



I'm going to post the stages (seven ) on my blog in a little bit. Pretty bizzare to watch.

I'll be back to comment.

[upnorthtim]

Really great work from everyone! Here is my very first Plant Parade post......the peony. Hope you like it!

Tim

[ams]

Nicely done Beth. It almost looks like stained glass.

Tim, love your peony. It is so soft and fluffy, just as it should be.

Anne

[Antiqueteacher]

Marion, love your four flowers that just sing, but the callas do sing louder!!

Elizabeth, thank you for the interesting info on the graphite shadowing! Lovely work on both of your flowers!!

Dewi, stunning work!!

Maureen, love you "Spot of White"!!

Kay, this is beautifully painted!!

Anne, love both of your works!!

Beth, looks like a beautiful stained glass window!!

Tim, welcome to your first PPP and your flower is breathtakingly beautiful!!

Kay, you were right, white flower, except for Tim , are hard to do!! I think that mine is from the RIL, but am not sure who submitted it, but thanks! I do have a tiny confession about mine. . .I had almost finished it, but it needed something, so this weekend while I was taking a Paul Jackson Workshop, I sort of asked him what it needed. . .and he sort of 'showed' me! Am including both the finsihed painting and the 'help'. It is a quarter sheet Arches, 140 lb., DS watercolors.

Enjoy, Katherine


"A Little Help From a Friend, Paul Jackson" My darks were not dark enough!

[eyepaint]

I'll post my pieces first, then return with comments.

1. Pan Pastels (the starter set, with blue, red, yellow, white, and black) on 7x10" canvas paper coated with terra cotta colourfix primer.

2. Acrylics, 7x10" canvas paper.


Cheers,

[eyepaint]

Marion - the centres of your jonquils are lovely. Mmm calla lillies Oooh such a smooth oil pastel gardenia!

Elizabeth - the depth/3D-ness in your first piece is wonderful

Dewi - sorry you lost your spirit (maybe it's hiding with the socks that go missing from the washing machine). I like the wild strokes on the right hand side of your piece

Maureen - happy begorra (I hope that's the name of the plant?)

Kay - even when you do non-bold colours your style sings!

Anne - love the dappled soft out-of-focus bg of your two pieces. The tones in your magnolia piece are wonderful

Beth - ah another cheerful Beth original

Tim - lovely!

Katherine - love the result. How kind of that fellow to help you

[annielu]

Kay, Thank you for your time! This was fun and I learned a lot. Arches 140 pound 1/2 sheet annielu

[Signchick]

Marion - What can I say? FOUR gorgeous flowers! You achieved great light on all of these. They are all amazing!!

Elizabeth - WOW on shading before the watercolor! They are both terrific!

Dewi - Your orchid colors are amazing! It looks done to me!

Maureen - Your flower is glowing with light! The shadows are so great, too!

Kay - Incredible cyclamen! Love the pinks!

Anne - Both of those flowers just jump off of the monitor!! So crisp & clean!

Tim - Wow!! Your bg really sets off your flower with the beautiful translucent petals!

Katherine - Help is okay! Your dars really do make it pop! The clean edges are amazing!

EP - Both are beautiful! The second one has so much beautiful movement, it looks like it is dancing!!

Annielu - Wonderful flower!! Amazing light on the petals!!

I hope I didn't miss anyone. They are all beautiful!! Thanks for the nice things you said about mine!

[oldwomanpainting]

Marion - all 4 are wonderful but love the callas and though you are not so happy with the peony I like it.
Elizabeth- I've never done watercolors so I don't know how the pencil affects it, but I do agree and like the 1st one better.
Dewi - I'm sorry you've lost your spirit to continue, I think your flower is wonderful.
Mauren - Stunning! So did you use any straight white? Still amazes me how very little "white" is actually in a painting.
kay - I agree that a softer palette is harder to do, though I really think you did great.
Anne- Both of your flowers just glow! Your peony stemens are great.
Beth - It looks like a stained glass window! Cool!
Tim - Welcome Tim! I new here too. Beautiful flower! Almost looks transparent it is so delicate looking.
Katherine - I like the finished painting so he must have told you right.
Ep - They are both great, but the 2nd one looks to be dancing!
Annielu - Great light on the petals. Love the stemens too.

Mine is still not done. So I'm headed back to work on the stamen on mine. (Having trouble)

[edtree]

Marion - I love the way your white flowers not only stand out from the background, but one from another. It is an awesome oil pastel! Your Callas lily painting is also wonderful...the flowers flow so beautifully and the way you've painted the curling buds is exquisite! The second watercolor is delightful and so powerful! If I had to choose a fav from the 4, this would be it! Gorgeous entry from the oil pastel challenge. I don't know how anyone can make something this lovely with ops, but you did it!

Dewi - You are doing a splendid job on your orchids! I would have never guessed you were or are struggling. Whether you stop now or go further, it is a winner in my eyes!

Maureen - I am stunned. Your flower has such magnificent depth, and the colors, though so little white was used, are perfect and LOOK white! Phenomenal work imho!

Kay - you always make your paintings look effortless. Even though you perfer to paint bold, your cyclamen are so delicate and beautiful and this shows your talent and versatility as an artist. I almost chose this reference and am glad now I didn't as it would have surely paled in comparison.

Ann - My eyes were drawn to the sweet little sprinklings of white just above the pedals of the top, center, right, then to the delicate pedals themselves to the fanfare in the middle of the peonie. I love this painting so much! The second was equally wonderful though in a different way. Your whites are absolutely brilliant and the curves of both flower pedals and leaves are superb!

Beth - Your style and everything you paint is always such a treat! Beautifully illustrative - awesome composition and presentation for the Jonquils! The colors from here are perfect! I know what you mean though, these were very difficult to photograph to show the true colors!

Tim - The crop for your peony is so wonderful! Your whites are delicate and beautifully painted and I love where you added your siggy! That little bit of dark in that corner brings the entire piece to life and completion. Well done!

Katherine - Your white flower is so very striking. The blue shadows are transitioned so gently. I love the balance of light and dark and the great crop/composition of this piece. Beautiful work! (PS - very cool to see the teamwork approach as well. I need a friend like Paul, lol!)

EP - Two great entries for the white parade! I especially like the one done with the pan pastels. Not only the colors, but the technique worked so well for this reference. The second one has some awesome features as well - beautiful little stamens and a dynamic background really enhance your beautiful white lily!

Annielu - your flower reminds me of pristine sheets during a gentle breeze. So soft, so delicate, extraordinary! The sweet little buds are nicely painted as well, and your background fits the entire piece perfectly. You should be quite proud and pleased!

Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments on my entries! I'll be back in a day or two to hopefully see some more white eye candy!

Elizabeth

[hammelmanart]

What challenge! Thank you, Kay. I knew this would be a great show!

Marion, I love your peony
Elizabeth, both are delightful and the petunias are mysterious with their evening light.
Dewi, the orchids are lovely.
Charlie'sMum, stunning!
Kay, one of the harder images and you did a superb job, as always!
Anne, your BG and contrasts are very successful in both pieces
Beth, original interpretation and very nice work!
Tim, soft but with great information on those petals!
Katherine, Wonderful! (I know Paul and am a FB friend. I heard all about your workshop. Bet you loved it!)
Eyepaint, being a fan of intense color, I love the 2nd one best!

So here is mine. I have avoided most white flowers but this time I just kept thinking "warm" "cool" and I think it worked. Also we had a local show going up requiring square paintings and I thought this would work well, so it is hanging in a restaurant for 3 months.

Here is White Peony, 13 x 13 watercolor

[Antiqueteacher]

Kay, thank you for hosting this month! It has been a challenge!!

EP, thanks! Love your lilies!!

Annielu, so glad that you joined in! Your flower is just beautiful!!

Beth, thanks, Paul's words exactly about the darks!!

Janet, thanks for your nice compliment and glad you could join us!!

Elizabeth, thank you for your encouraging words! Yes, I could use Paul with a lot of my paintings!! Glad you joined us this month!!

Linda, love your white peony and the bg!! Glad you joined us, too, this month!! Paul told us that we were being watched closely over FB! Great Workshop!!

Katherine

[artastic]

truly amazing works this month, I missed the date, and just never got to the project, but had to come back and check, astounding job everyone,
and belated happy birthday Kay