Daring Watercolor #7

My reference photo of a neighbors Iris

I worked as slow as a sloth today and I think it suits me far better. At least it is more fun and I wasn’t working as though my pants were on fire, that is always good.

I tried my best to match my photo up my painting. Only difference I would say is that I almost matched my purple to the purple to my photo reference not as you see down below. I took it slow and easy. I spent up to an hour in searching for my subject and drawing it out. Now that is something, at least for me, the “rush and get it done” kind of gal.

Here is my painting….the size is 7 x 9 inches. The colors used were: cobalt blue, permanent rose, quin. gold, lemon yellow, lunar blue, and french ultr. blue.

The blues in the background are darker and not so strident blue. The whites are whiter on my painting than they appear here.

I worked slowly and built up my layers, saved my whites and I also was careful that I didn’t hold my painting as lovely or precious. I pretended it was just an ordinary, no consequence day to make sure I didn’t get too carried away with the process. This attitude kept my mind engaged in the job in front of me without tricking myself into loving it too soon or for me to get caught up in the excitement; therefore rushing it to a finish because it is so darn fun. Oh, the silly things I do to get the painting done slowly!

There are some blatant fixes that I need to correct. For one, that light area on the upper right is too light, comes off too white. I will go back in and darken that area. I might do it today before quitting. In fact I should had done it before posting this, oh well. Gives me something to work on.

I wished that I was more careful with the mouth of the Iris with that beautiful yellow beard. I am tired and satisfied that I slowed down! Imagine that…..wonders never cease.