Dance of the Delphiniums

Dance of the Delphiniums
9 x 12 Oil Painting
by Pat Fiorello

$450

Delphiniums in sunlight based on a scene I'd seen at Callaway Gardens  while teaching a workshop there a few years back.

Thought I'd share a peak behind the scenes at the process I used to create this painting, straight from my easel...

Started with a color block in to position the flowers. Assumed a cool light.

Finished blocking in the background, keeping it dark and a bit on the warm side.

Lifted out where some lights will eventually go.

Started laying in shadows, trying to stay in an abstract phase.

Added sunlit areas and leaves

and the final touches of adjusting some shapes and edges (some hard and some soft)  resulted in the finished painting, "Dance of the Delphiniums" shown at the start of this post. Mindful of restraint not to overdo it on details and petals. My original intention for this painting was more about conveying the abstract pattern of light rather then a realistic portrait of these specific flowers.