Home Forums The Learning Center Composition and Design Don’t know how to start painting flowers – help please

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  • #451070
    Mario_K
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        Hi all,
        I am a new painter.
        I want to paint the attached image I got from Pexels on canvas board using Atelier Interactive Acrylic.
        Should I draw the flowers with a 5H grey lead pencil?

        Do I do the darks first and then do the lights on top?
        Do I do the leaves on the bottom first then the stems then the bulbs?
        Thanks in advance.

        My paintings are shown on the following:
        https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
        https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

        #563012

        First the drawing, then the background. Wait for it to dry. Flowers furthest away followed by flowers nearer and then nearest. Let dry and finish with the foliage.

        It is only on a basis of knowledge that we can become free to compose naturally. -- Bernard Dunstan
        blog.jlk.net

        #563015
        Mario_K
        Default

            First the drawing, then the background. Wait for it to dry. Flowers furthest away followed by flowers nearer and then nearest. Let dry and finish with the foliage.

            Thank you.
            Is drawing with grey lead pencil fine?
            Concerned about it showing through the paint.

            My paintings are shown on the following:
            https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
            https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

            #563013

            Draw with whatever fits your needs. Acrylic will cover most (almost) any marks you make. Just don’t press too hard into your support. Good luck

            It is only on a basis of knowledge that we can become free to compose naturally. -- Bernard Dunstan
            blog.jlk.net

            #563007
            La_
            Default

                might help you in the long run to gently draw with coloured pencils

                la

                _____________________________________________
                When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know Peace

                #563016
                Mario_K
                Default

                    Thank you Claude and La.

                    My paintings are shown on the following:
                    https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                    https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

                    #563017
                    Mario_K
                    Default

                        I need further help.
                        I am using artist quality paint for the first time.
                        I made the middle ground too orange. If you compare it to the image of what I am painting as per the first post in this thread.
                        As per the attached image of my WIP.
                        When I tried numerous times to lighten it by painting over it it still shows too dark of an orange.
                        Is this because the yellow is translucent and the red is semi opaque?
                        Is it also because the yellow is series 2 and the red is series 3?
                        This is frustrating me, I’ve done too many layers trying to fix it that it is all thick now. I can never get colours right grrrr :o
                        I’ve attached the paints I am using.

                        My paintings are shown on the following:
                        https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                        https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

                        #563008
                        La_
                        Default

                            relax, the white background is messing with you.
                            place something blue next to that orange and it won’t look too dark at all anymore.

                            la

                            _____________________________________________
                            When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know Peace

                            #563018
                            Mario_K
                            Default

                                relax, the white background is messing with you.
                                place something blue next to that orange and it won’t look too dark at all anymore.

                                la

                                Thank you La.
                                I tried painting the flowers. I spent all day trying to get the darker blue colour as per the reference image. I spent all day also trying to actually paint a flower with the light blue. It ended up looking like stripes on the flower and nothing like the reference image so had to paint over and start again over and over. I’ve added how it looks. All day just to get the dark (wrong blue) on the background flowers. I also managed to smear blue on the orange so will need to repaint the middle background once the flowers are done. Feeling disheartened. I feel like I do not know how to mix and blend. I feel like abandoning this as it probably is too advanced for my skill level. Need a teacher. So frustrated :( :( :(

                                Can someone help me. Should I be going dark to light or light to dark for the flowers. How should I go about painting to get the look of the reference image?

                                My paintings are shown on the following:
                                https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                                https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

                                #563006
                                La_
                                Default

                                    ah, the frustrations of reaching for perfection all at once.
                                    this is a convoluted piece and you have to allow yourself patience in getting through the potentially wretched in-between stages that tend to show up in every single work that you’ll do.

                                    while there are artist who work each section to completion before moving on to the next section, it’s far more common to block in everything with a first (thin) coat to define the shapes and colors (backgrounds sections (your yellow/orange) could/should/would be complete at this 1st stage) then start again with a second more refined/detailed coat and then a third and final coat of fine detail and any necessary minor refinements.

                                    so yeah, get the whole canvas covered in first coat color – exact color doesn’t matter much here (just paint all the blue flowers blue, white can be next coat), think more about edges and shapes [and values if you’ve the head space to manage it, but it too can be done in the next coat].

                                    once every things blocked in, check your edges – are there lumps bumps and ridges you like? don’t like? a gentle fine grit sand paper can knock those down for you before you continue with the next coat/level of details.

                                    1st coat Should look pretty flat, boring, much like a childs colouring book
                                    2nd coat Should look like you’re starting to get three dimensional
                                    3rd coat finalizes 3d and Should make you feel like an [accomplished] artist :cat:

                                    these are guidelines, not rules, but i hope they give you some focus, patience and tolerance to continue without pulling your hair out or taking a hammer to your canvas :eek:

                                    la

                                    _____________________________________________
                                    When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know Peace

                                    #563019
                                    Mario_K
                                    Default

                                        Thank you!
                                        Might need some of that sand paper.
                                        I felt like taking a hammer to my canvas yesterday.

                                        My paintings are shown on the following:
                                        https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                                        https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

                                        #563005
                                        ~JMW~
                                        Default

                                            With acrylics , I usually paint the whole background or do a rough in /under painting.., this also covers the whole canvas.
                                            Then I would start doing the far flowers, the the next closer flowers and so on..
                                            But I rarely copy photos exactly, or try to match colors perfectly..
                                            Life is too short .. as long as it looks nice on the painting..
                                            I like your orange/yellow background better than the color in the photo..

                                            With regular acrylics I would probably do a base blue layer, let it dry or maybe while wet bring in white and stroke up into the blue, or if dry then dry brush or scumble the lighter white part in…
                                            The when I felt the flowers were good, then I’d paint in the leaves..

                                            Getting a base layer, under painting or a toned canvas, whichever you want to do…it will help smooth the canvas texture & the paint will blend & coat better.

                                            You could simplify the tulips & the leaves, you don’t have to be a slave to the photo..
                                            Maybe a soft blurred impressionistic background of tulips and only define the closest ones..

                                            ~Joy~

                                            #563020
                                            Mario_K
                                            Default

                                                With acrylics , I usually paint the whole background or do a rough in /under painting.., this also covers the whole canvas.
                                                Then I would start doing the far flowers, the the next closer flowers and so on..
                                                But I rarely copy photos exactly, or try to match colors perfectly..
                                                Life is too short .. as long as it looks nice on the painting..
                                                I like your orange/yellow background better than the color in the photo..

                                                With regular acrylics I would probably do a base blue layer, let it dry or maybe while wet bring in white and stroke up into the blue, or if dry then dry brush or scumble the lighter white part in…
                                                The when I felt the flowers were good, then I’d paint in the leaves..

                                                Getting a base layer, under painting or a toned canvas, whichever you want to do…it will help smooth the canvas texture & the paint will blend & coat better.

                                                You could simplify the tulips & the leaves, you don’t have to be a slave to the photo..
                                                Maybe a soft blurred impressionistic background of tulips and only define the closest ones..

                                                Thank you.
                                                Yeah I am doing the background tulips first.
                                                I am glad my background looks good at least. Thank you for your compliment.
                                                Yeah I am trying too hard to make it like the photo. So many tulips, then there’s the foliage.
                                                What about the light blue colour? Should I just mix a light blue or as you said blend white in while wet?
                                                I made a thread in Acrylics section as I am struggling with the blue of the tulips. Here is a photo below. I went out and bought ultramarine blue today to try instead of pthalo blue red shade.

                                                My paintings are shown on the following:
                                                https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                                                https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

                                                #563009
                                                La_
                                                Default

                                                    :cat:

                                                    _____________________________________________
                                                    When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know Peace

                                                    #563021
                                                    Mario_K
                                                    Default

                                                        Thanks La.
                                                        This project was a fail. I accidentally tore the canvas and had to destroy the whole thing.
                                                        Still upset about it as I really have a vision for a series of flower paintings.

                                                        My paintings are shown on the following:
                                                        https://www.instagram.com/mario_knez_artist/
                                                        https://www.facebook.com/marioknezartist

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