Many of us are partial to a particular flower. Flowers are often planted in our gardens. At the florist they can be purchased. Bouquets of flowers may also be given to us to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries. Most blooms are only around for a few days. In my work as an artist and a lover of flowers, I learned that I could capture their essence by painting them. This is for you if you ever thought you could paint your favourite flowers. More about the author!
It is a fascinating story. Numerous species of flower and plant have been recorded using botanical artwork. The act of painting a bloom and saving it for all time is both satisfying and magical. You can also take flower pictures, but you get to enjoy the extra pleasure of examining each stamen, petal and leaf. To make the flower appear three dimensional, you must observe how the light is reflected by the petals. Paint flowers and you will get to understand them better.
My advice to anyone looking to start painting is to choose their favorite flower to begin, regardless of how complicated it appears. Your favourite will inspire you to work harder to achieve a good rendering. This will help you to better convey your feelings into the flower paintings. You may gasp when you see a beautiful flower painting. This is because that artist was also moved by it and wanted to share this with you. You don’t need to worry if you make mistakes. As you practice, your understanding of the form will improve. The painting will appear easier, you will see more about colour nuances and light effects.
Flower painting can be learned using some simple techniques. This topic has been covered in many great art books, and you can be sure that your bookstore has several. Don’t copy someone else’s technique. The results may not be as pleasing to you than simply watching your favourite flowers and improving your interpretation of them with every attempt.
Enjoy yourself and all of your efforts. As you practice, your ability and creativity will improve. The soft powdery and oily versions of pastels are both my favorite. The range of colour they offer is amazing, including very pale hues to brighter ones. It is possible to extend the effect by putting thin veil of colour over top, which allows for the colors below to be seen. Perhaps you’d like to try something different, such as watercolour? For good reason, this has always been the favourite medium of botanical and floral artists. You can create a mouthwatering effect by allowing one rich colour to randomly fade into another.