Sunday, March 27, 2011

Oil Painting- Hydrangeas

Friday was the last day of a wonderful workshop with Hedi Moran, painting floral still lives in oil.
I worked on a painting of hydrangeas inspired by this set up:



It was the last day for the workshop and I had only 1 small canvas( 9x 12) left, so I had to simplify a bit from the set up.
Again I started with an initial loose block in done in transparent paints just to establish placement of the big shape positive shape- go for the darkest version of the colors you see and we'll build lights on top.




Then added an underpainting for the background. At this point, everything is still transparent and not defined.


 

Once the entire canvas is covered in a loose block in of color and shape, then thicker opaque paint is applied to develop the painting further .


The approach Hedi shared this week is different than any other training I've had, but after 5 days in a row, I feel more comfortable with it. It offers a way to start very loose and free and then build to the desired level of looseness or detail.

Trying out new approaches and learning from new instructors is always good. Even if you don't continue on with their approaches, you will pick up something to incorporate in how you choose to paint and make it your own.






4 comments:

  1. Beautifully painted! I like your composition and your lovely colors.

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  2. Pat,
    It looks like this workshop was wonderful! I love hydrangeas and these are beautiful! I have tried that painting style with laying in the transparents and it can lead to some beautiful results. I think like you said we have to take what works for us and make it our own. Great painting.

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  3. Your hydrangeas look like hydrangeas. I find them so pesky to paint but I always come back to them year after year. It's almost Hydrangea time!! I am enjoying your new blog and the article about changing direction was very good. The picture of you painting the dephinium was beautiful. thanks for including me!

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  4. Thanks for your message. I love, love, love hydrangeas! One of my favorite things to paint- I think because I really like the blues and lavender .The secret to painting them is simplify the big shape and suggest a few characteristic shapes near the edges to have them read as hydrangeas.
    They'll be out soon- enjoy them and have fun painting!

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