200lb watercolour paper

Pale Pink Tulip – watercolour sketch #79

July 5, 2018 by Helen Parry

Pale Pink Tulip – watercolour painting in the garden

I began painting the Pale Pink Tulip in between watercolour washes of the Yellow Tulip watercolour #77. I’ve written a blog about painting the Yellow Tulip too. I had already set up my painting equipment (in the garden) to paint the yellow tulip. So it made sense to make the most of the warm dry day and paint a few different tulips. I painted smooth wet washes of watercolour on the tulips, so as one painting dried I spent the time painting wet washes on another tulip painting.

Helen Parry Watercolour Artist -Pale Pink Tulip — Pale Pink Tulip watercolour By Helen Parry

Painting the curve of the petals

The Pale Pink Tulip had subtle tones of pink, ranging from a warm reddish tone through to a colder blue purple tone. To find the balance between the tones, I started painting the pale pink mid tones first. I applied very wet washes and gave the layers time to dry before adding another layer. I wanted the petals to have a smooth subtle change of colour, so patiently built up the pale washes of colour.

Some areas of the Pale Pink Tulip were left with just the first layers of wash. These became my highlighted areas on the petals. Then I added a deeper pink mix to the outer petals.

As the layers built, I left areas on the middle and edges of the petals with fewer layers of paint. The areas with light washes became the highlighted areas of the petals. Painting is all about creating an illusion of 3D within a 2D format. So the highlights on the left petal, follow the outline shape of the petal. The highlights have helped to create the illusion of a curve in the petals.

giclee print of pale pink tulip flower — Pale Pink Tulip giclee print

Adding warmer and cooler tones of colour

Next I added a cooler blue wash to the base, the tips and the edges of the petals. All the time I painted I was constantly observing the Pale Pink Tulip. Then I used a stronger pink watercolour with a warmer tone of colour. The warmer pink mix was applied to the larger central areas of the petals. The cluster of petals just seen at the top of the tulip were also painted with the warmer pink mix.

There are a lot of layers of watercolour on the Pale Pink Tulip, giving the flower a subtle range of pink hues and definition to the shape of the petals.

Finally I used the green mix for the stem of the Tulip. I applied several layers of green mix watercolour to the stem, for a smooth effect.

Yellow Tulip – watercolour sketch #77

June 5, 2018 by Helen Parry

Yellow Tulip – layers of smooth watercolour wash

The Yellow Tulip is a tulip growing in our garden. It is a beautiful bright yellow flower, which emerges every year from under a small serviceberry tree (Amelanchier). The tulip is a bright warm yellow tone, that brightens up the undergrowth below the tree.

It was a bright dry day, so I decided to set up the painting equipment outside, in the garden. First I used an old wooden folding chair, that’s on its last legs. Then I overturned a large plant pot (empty of course!) and placed a large roof tile on top for a flat surface area. I’ve used this a few times and its quite effective (at the right height to the small chair). Next I lay my palette mixes on the tile, plus brushes and several jam jars of water. Several means I don’t have to keep fetching water.

Helen Parry Watercolour Artist -Yellow Tulip — Yellow Tulip watercolour by Helen Parry

Painting smooth watercolour washes

First I created a simple pencil sketch of the petal shapes of the Yellow Tulip. The petals had a smooth yellow colouring with a deeper yellow tone spreading out from the base of each petal.

To achieve a smooth look to the Tulip I started with a pale yellow watercolour mix. Painting all the petals. I left this layer to dry, before adding another layer. I repeated this process several times. Each time patiently waiting for a layer to dry. The washes were very wet. I usually work on another painting, while I wait for layers to dry.

Next I added more pigment to the yellow mix, building a stronger colour. Again I painted more smooth wet washes to the petals. Then I made the mixture a slightly darker tone of yellow for the base of the petals. Using the darker tone, I applied the brush in upward strokes, from the base of the petal to the top.

I tried not to over do the brushstrokes, as I wanted a smooth transition from the dark tone to the lighter tips of the petals.

I used the same smooth process, building layers of green watercolour mix for the stem of the Yellow Tulip. Graduating the layers from light to dark.

giclee print of yellow tulip flower — Yellow Tulip giclee print

Using a heavyweight watercolour paper

I knew I’d be painting lots of watercolour layers for the Yellow Tulip so I chose a heavyweight paper to use. I chose a St Cuthberts Mill Bockingford 425gsm (200lb). It can handle a lot of water washes and I didn’t need to stretch the paper beforehand. Over time I’ve learnt which papers I need to stretch beforehand.

If you use a lighter weight paper i.e 190 – 300gsm (90-140lb) you need to stretch this before painting any heavy watercolour washes and even then the paper can still cockle. Cockling causes the paper to bend and buckle. Even with heavyweight papers you sometimes have a slight buckle when you apply a wet on wet wash, but this should disappear once the wash dries.

Orange Daylily – Watercolour Sketch #36

August 3, 2015 by Helen Parry

Orange Daylily Hemerocallis fulva – vibrant short life flower

Vibrant Orange Daylily from the garden is todays watercolour sketch. Orange Daylily’s proliferate the garden this year. The Orange Daylily have a beautiful vibrancy and add splashes of colour to a border.

watercolour painting of orange daylily flower in studio — Orange Daylily watercolour sketch by Helen Parry in studio

I love the texture and variance of colour within the petals. It’s a flower that draws your attention. Sadly the daylily doesn’t flower long. There are a constant stream of buds emerging, to stop you becoming wistful. In addition the daylily comes in a range of colours, but the orange stands out in the borders.

Orange Daylily on heavy weight watercolour paper

I painted the daylily on my St Cuthberts Mill 200lb Bockingford watercolour pad, it allows me to add lots of water and plenty of layers without cockling. It is important to use good quality materials for painting, it makes a huge difference in the painting you produce. For example the paper is forgiving if you over water. Also the colour mixes remain true and hold well. Having a 200lb watercolour pad means while outdoors I can paint quickly, using lots of watercolour and layers without having to stretch the paper beforehand. I can trust the watercolour paper can handle whatever I splash across it.

Orange Daylily texture in watercolour

Firstly I started with a yellow wash over the petals and leaves. I added two more layers of yellow wash to the centre of the petals and the stamen. I had created three yellow palettes, one to add more yellow pigment as needed. Then one to add blue pigment for creating the green leaves. Finally one to add red pigment for creating the orange petals of the Daylily.

With the Daylily watercolour I’ve tried to show the crinkly texture of the petals, the curve of the stamen filaments and the burst of orange against the long spiky leaves. I used a deeper orange for creating wavy lines along the petals. I also left a lighter edge along the petals, creating a darker line to define the crinkly edges. The Orange Daylily though beautiful does need to be watched, as it’s leafy spikes, while offering a mass of ground cover can become quite invasive.