Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Geraniums at Play

Geraniums at Play
Watercolor on paper, 6x9
Purchase Information
Every year, I plant the beloved geraniums.  Every year but this one.  Our new puppy, now 6 months old, has a passion for emptying every pot and container of all plantlife and dirt - no matter how heavy those pots are!  So, this year, I am simply admiring these beauties from afar.  I love the look of dripping watercolor on paper.  One would think that this is a simple process of raising the paper upright, the the juicy watercolors would just drip downwards.  Well, it doesn't work that easy for me!  Last time, I had to blow on the drops to make them fall.  This time, I held the paper upright and tapped it on the table...several times before the drips would fall!  I wanted drama in this painting, so I chose indigo for the shadow areas, pulling some of it back out with a stiff nubby bristle brush and water - blotting with a paper towel to lift the color.  This left a ghostly image of petals in the background.  I need to be careful with this technique, lest I rub some of the paper away as well.  Today, I add scarlet lake to my arsenal of reds, and a little new gamboge for the sun kissed highlights (yes, I am still working my way though my newfound treasure of watercolors!). Painting number 582 in as many days.

10 comments:

  1. Your geranium is so beautiful, as well as the other flower below, and rooster and cat. You are working very much. I always admire your paintings. Have a nice week and Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your painting is beautiful. My cat, who died three years back, used to hate my geraniums and scratched them out of their pots. She never did it by any other flowers! Animals have strange ways sometimes Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such gorgeous geraniums! I love them too...this is the first year I haven`t had them since my daughter does the pots now! Loved the dog story, reminded me of when I`d first plant new annuals and then find my little white bichon proudly sitting on the top of the pots...paws and face full of dirt. He was such a monkey. It was always when they were first trying to root too!!

    Thanks for sharing your process you managed to create such beautiful dimension!

    Hug Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your description of how you get the effect of drips on your watercolor paintings--which, by the way are just exquisite.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is stunning. That indigo background did exactly what you wanted. Drama. It is magnificent.
    Nicole/Beadwright

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh - this is a gorgeous painting! I inherited my nan's geraniums when she moved and I adore the smell as I walk in my house x

    ReplyDelete
  7. An amazing piece. I love the flowers and how you have created all the colors and the intricate workings of both flowers and stems. Truly a beautiful painting. Blessings, Janet PPF

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was away and chose to be unplugged during that time but I am back and just HAD to come see what you did for PPF. Your geraniums are just amazing-I love the effect you got with the indigo!

    ReplyDelete