I love painting Springtime themes and all the natural elements associated with this special season of renewal. This is the set up I paint directly from life.
With so many flower shapes and relationships, I make my drawing on tracing paper.
I erase a lot, delete and improvise where necessary for a pleasing flow.
I trace this finished drawing with a sheet of transfer paper underneath onto
Arches 300lb CP watercolor paper.
Next I paint all the flowers, moving left to right and emphasize the 3 narcissus by increasing the value contrast and repetition of shape.
After painting the vase I carefully wet the background slightly leaving a dry margin around the flowers. I paint this with a warm mix of burnt umber, cadmium yellow light and ultramarine blue and pull it in tight to the flowers. I add Kyanite Genuine to the wash for cool, sparkly shadows.
I finish with the nest, bark and twig, concentrating on texture and just
doing enough to set off the flowers, and be interesting.
