Change Up

The background is painted with mixes of White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson). Three shades are made: Medium, Lighter and Lightest. The sun pours into the painting from the upper right so the lightest mixture is used there. The background is made progressively darker toward the left side of the canvas. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any picture to see it larger.

I’m not at all happy with my first choice for the background. It’s just too blah for me. So I change up and paint over the previous color with mixes of Ultramarine Blue + a tiny bit of MUD + White.

I already like this much better!

Zinnias are painted, wet-into-wet, over the background. This allows me to make the flowers flow freely and smoothly. If the underlying paint was dry, the edges of the individual petals would be ragged and bumpy. Mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium are used for the blossoms. The dark centers are tipped with Cadmium Yellow Medium + White.

Foliage is added with combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White, Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White and Pthalo Blue + White. The long stems are made by turning my square tipped “Bright” brush sideways. If you’d like to learn more about the brushes I like to use, just CLICK HERE!

The broad, flat edge of a larger “Bright” brush is used to shape the leaves.

Magenta + White and Magenta + Cadmium Red Deep are used along with the other mixes to paint the Zinnias in shadow.

The colorful blossoms dance in the gentle breeze. The cool blue background makes the warm Red/Oranges of the flowers appear even more intense. I’m so glad I decided to Change it Up! We’ll work on the bright yellow American Goldfinches in our next session. See you then! Hugs,

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