Cloeme Continued!

I kept looking at what I thought was my finished painting on the mantel and it informed me it needed just a bit more value on the left side and the corners to carry the eye to the subject.  So I added water, a touch of Cheap Joe's American Journey colors cobalt and pomegranate and I do think it is finally finished!

Cabin Fever Flower - Cloeme

Here is the latest in what is turning into the "Cabin Fever Collection."  Cloeme have such stunning blossoms - like fireworks in your garden with their spiky projections on top of tall stalks.  My inspiration photos were taken at a couple of different gardens.  One was from the last time they grew in my garden here.  They usually come back every year, but when I used a pre-emergent one spring to head off the weeds, it also interrupted the plant cycle.  But I do have the photos!  When we move, I would like to include them in my next garden.

After drawing the sketch I decided to cut petals from masking tape to be able to paint the background right over the blossoms. Once the background was in, I removed the tape and tried to keep a light touch in adding the rose colored petals. I'm probably not finished with this painting yet.  Looking at it from across on the room, on my mantel, it doesn't have the pop effect I tried to get. Without overworking it, I want to add some touches of value that will be seen effectively from a distance as well as close up.  The trick will be not to overwork it.

Polly's Pancake House Rose Hips

Another cabin fever painting.  Penny's Pancake Parlor is an amazing" breakfast all day" destination  in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire.  Located in the White Mountains, it is one of my favorite son in law's favorite places to take us to on a Saturday morning when we come to visit.  It's about a two hour drive and worth the effort.  You can find out all about the history of PPP: http://pollyspancakeparlor.com/.  A couple of years ago we were there for a visit in the fall and on a damp overcast rainy morning we made the trip and waited over an hour in line outdoors. While we waited we breathed in the mountain air and soaked up the beautiful mountain panorama around us.  There were rose hip laden bushes in front of the restaurant and I took plenty of photos so I could paint them someday.  Well today was the day and here they are!

Cabin Fever Moon Flowers

These moon flowers were blooming in Grafton, Illinois during a sibling reunion weekend a couple of years ago.  My brother, brother in law and I took several photos in the day and at night of these spectacular blossoms.  I've had them in mind to paint ever since, but it took these days of intense heat and cabin fever to finally get me motivated.  I should probably be packing more boxes for our eventual move, but I decided to paint instead!  Next - complete a painting of giant rose hips that I sketched and started.

Cabin Fever Flowers

With the thermometer pushing over 100 this week, cabin fever motivated me to  use the indoor time, and outdoor time on the deck in a wet bathing suit, to paint from flower photos I've taken.  Here is the finished hibiscus and large red poppies.  I'm pleased with how I kept the hibiscus fresh leaving the white of the paper to give the airy effect I wanted.  The poppies, on the other hand, turned out a little heavy.  I'll try them again, and make an effort to leave more of the white paper highlights.  It's going to be warm next week as well, so I'll keep the cabin fever series going!

Hibiscus

Okay, so I go for days without painting or posting and now I may be beginning a marathon.  Hibiscus flowers are starting to blossom...

Cabin Fever Cone Flower

It's record breaking heat outside, 106 degrees, but inside it's nice and cool and after a nice afternoon nap I finished the cone flower painting.  I think it's done, take a few photos out on the deck, bring it inside, study it from a distance, add some touches, then take a few more photos.  After doing this several times, I do think it is finished.  At least I need to stop adding one more thing or I'll risk overworking it.   Also, the sun is going down and the colors in my photos are becoming more muted by the minute!

I'm on a roll.  I've decided to do a series of paintings from flower photos I've taken that I've saved to paint "later."  Later is now!  So I just sketched some hibiscus flowers from my flower photo file. I'm also trying to push the values, the colors and the techniques beyond my comfort zone.  We'll see what happens.