The Echinaceas or cone flowers in bloom in the garden at the moment are a deep, deep pink colour and are looking gorgeous. I wonder whether they're deeper pink because of the fact that there has been so little rain this year? That sounds really fanciful I know, but I have noticed that flowers change their hue from year to year, particularly clematis and that may be due in part to the weather conditions.
Anyway...I am going to do Late Summer flowers for my workshop in September and thought these might be a good subject.
I've tended to avoid painting them because I couldn't see how I could get the tonal contrast with the back ground. And pink is a difficult colour to paint successfully. So today I had a go. Still don't relish the pink but I loved rendering the form of the flowers with their twisty turny petals. The centres are a bit of a challenge too. They become more cone like as the season progresses and at the moment they are quite flat. Fascinating geometric form within the centres...hopeless trying to get that with watercolour so it's a question of summarising and giving an impression.
I'm hooked now though!
Ann, I love your coneflowers and beautiful background, the negative painting is gorgeous. Diana
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely thing to say...thank you Diana!
ReplyDeleteANother beauty, Ann! I thought I was imagining that my echinacea flowers were darker than usual this year, but maybe it's true! We've been extremely dry here too... maybe that does affect the color.
ReplyDeleteThank you Deborah. I've compared my photos of last year and this and the difference is striking. I prefer looking at them in the garden to painting them! Have you ever done them on silk?
ReplyDeleteAnn