Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

Share

More

Next Blog

Create Blog

Sign In

Home
SATURDAY, 30 MARCH 2013 COPYRIGHT

Time for Some Colour!

Spring is upon us so it's time for some colour! Here's a watercolour tutorial showing how I approach painting my favourite British spring flower, Fritillaria meleagris L. Liliaceae. Commonly known as the Snake's Head Fritillary. F. meleagris was once a common sight in British meadows but the intensification of farming after WWII destroyed their habitat, and, when combined with and the practise of picking and selling vast quantities of the flowers in markets - the population was left severely depleted. Today the status of Fritillaria in Britain is Nationally Scarce ( non IUCN data 2007) and the remaining population is largely concentrated in Oxfordshire.

All images and text on this blog are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced in any form without the authors permission.

ABOUT ME DIANNE SUTHERLAND UNITED KINGDOM

Welcome to my blog, here you can view and read about my work and also find information on painting and botanical art. I originally started this blog back in January 2009 while I was a student on the on the Society of Botanical Artist's distance learning diploma course. It was really just a personal record of my journey through the course and helped to motivate me at times when enthusiam was low. Writing always seems to add a bit of order so it works for me! I also wanted to see if I could find any other

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 1 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

students on the course in the hope that it might be of some interest to fellow and future students. I graduated from the course in 2011 and continue to use the blog to chart my progress and to write about any art related stuff that I think might be of interest.
V I E W MY C O M PL ET E PR OF IL E

ADSENSE

Leading Provider o
I know in my last blog post I said I was going to do leaves... but that's coming up later! Also if leaves are your nemesis, the monocots with their thin strappy leaves, like this Fritillaria, make life a little easier, so that's a good excuse for me to postpone a leaf tutorial! The Subject Fritillarias last a few weeks so you have a good bit of time and each flower lasts a few days. Always consider the longevity of the subject if you are slow at working and take photographs for back up reference. NOTE: Beware of colour and morphological changes due to environmental influences e.g. heat, light, nutrients etc. which can occur when you take a plant indoors or take a cutting. Put it back outdoors at night or in a cool place if it's a cut stem. The Preparation Before putting pencil to paper take time to observe the subject and find the best position by turning it around....take a good look and think it through. I lit the plant from the right hand side using an angle poise lamp ( right handers light from the other side). I used a pot of Frits containing 5 plants, purchased from the garden centre. The Fritillaria is a kind subject, in this one I like the way the two leaves at the top curl around, so this is a good feature for a painting. Look for attractive and curves and shapes and avoid awkward overlaps or
http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html Page 2 of 10

FOLLOW BY EMAIL

Email address...

Submit

BLOG ARCHIVE

2013 (3) June (1) March (2) Time for Some Colour! Monochrome, Ink Wash Tonal Painting of a Calla lil... 2012 (12) 2011 (12) 2010 (10) 2009 (7)

ETSY SHOP

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

foreshortening which make it difficult for the viewer to see what's actually going on. Make a few rough sketches before deciding on the best position. Put them aside for at least an hour before deciding which one is the best.You can do some colour testing in this time.

Etsy
diannesutherlandart

Drawing Once you have decided on the best position start be making an line drawing of your subject as described in previous post on drawing. Keep it very light and never press on so hard that the pencil indents the paper. I use an H or HB pencil. I'm working on Langton Extra Smooth Hot Pressed 140lb paper.
SEARCH THIS BLOG

Search

POPULAR POSTS

Tonal drawing Fritillaria pallidiflora A couple more pencil images before I move on to colour work. Fritillaria pallidiflora . These seem to grow well in the garden, the bulbs c... Botanical Illustration Assignment 9. The Botanical Illustration. I went with an old favorite for this one, Pulsatilla vulgaris. Playing a bit safe really becaus... More on Drawing - Graphite tonal drawing of a red rose Final tonal drawing of a decaying rose In the last post I discussed my initial approach to creating a line drawing of a rose by observ...

Once I have made the initial drawing I use a putty rubber to lighten it so there is as little as possible pencil on the paper but just enough to be able to see the outline. Identify the Colours Identify which colours you are going to use before starting. I usually take a leaf and petal from the plant ( if possible) and lay them on a separate sheets of white paper to isolate them from surrounding colours, which influence your perception of the colour. if you have made colour charts these can be very useful, particularly with green mixes, however I'm lazy and too disorganised!... so I don't bother with colour charts and mix colours on a 'need' basis....I never seem to want
http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 3 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

to spend time doing charts but if you can they are worth the effort.
MY BLOG LIST

MAKING A MARK
10 reasons to visit the RA Summer Exhibition 2013

aperta-mentebotanicalart
Iris

Sketching in Nature For the shadows I used a Botanical Grey Mix: There are lots of different mixes for a botanical grey comprising equal parts of blue + red + yellow. I'm using Cobalt blue, Perm Magenta an Winsor Yellow. Petals: There is an underlying brighter red colour for this I used Perylene Maroon +Permanent Magenta. For the darker purple I add Winsor Violet Dioxide and add Neutral Tint for the darker shades. The leaf tip is lemon yellow. Leaves: The leaves have a blue/grey green colour. I used Cerulean Blue + Transparent Yellow with a little Magenta to kill the brightness. The ratio of the colours determines the colour balance. Also check the colour of the newer leaves compared to the older leaves, usually older leaves are more yellow. The Stem: The underlying colour is green with a red/purple/ brown marking. I use the same green mix as the leaves with the red/purple mix on top. I always try to use the same colours throughout to create transition and continuity and always try to use a few colours as possible. The Anthers:Winsor yellow for closed anthers with the green mix on top. Dehisced anthers are more of a Cad yellow. Neutral Tint mix 4:1 ratio of French Ultra to Perm Azil Crimson with a tiny amount of Cad Yellow. mixed to make a black. Painting
FOLLOWERS SHARE IT Show All

loosening up in the Botanical Garden.Concetta Flore

ArtPlantae Today
Art Retreat in Yosemite with Andie Thrams

Vicki Lee Johnston

Botanical illustration finale ...

Share this on Facebook Tweet this

View stats
(NEW) Appointment gadget >>

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 4 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

I always try to work on a painting up as a whole rather than concentrating on any one part. So I lay in all the washes first, I think it makes for a better all round ' balanced' painting For example, it can be tempting to focus on the most visually appealing part of a plant such as the flower and neglect the leaves until last, I don't like to work in this way because I'm left with the parts I either don't fancy doing or find difficult, and this, for me, is how a painting remains in an unfinished state....it's also quite a stressful experience if you make a good job of the flower and leave the tricky bits until last! To start with I lay down a tea wash of the green. A tea wash is simply a very dilute mix of paint with lots water.....like tea! Leave out only the strongest highlights when painting a tea wash. I paint this was very quickly and used a flat W & N 3mm/1/8" One Stroke brush. I like this brush for stems and curved strappy leaves because it can be angled to allow more paint to be deposited on the shaded sides but it also tapers well at leaf tips.

Join this site

with Google Friend Connect

Members (49) More

Already a member? Sign in

Followers (38)

Follow this blog

TOTAL PAGEVIEWS

The underlying colour of the flower is basically light/white with a heavy chequered pattern on top, so once the first leaf wash is complete I paint in the shadows on the flower using the botanical grey mix. Again this is added quickly and left to dry completely before starting on the first colour wash ( which you can see I have just started in the image below). Also be careful to leave the anthers clear of paint as a sharp edge will be needed around these. You can use masking fluid
http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

31,986

Powered By Invesp

Page 5 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

but I find it more trouble than it's worth. I then apply a second wash of the green mix to the leaves, using a more concentrate green to define the leaf blades and shadows. Remember my light is from the right hand side. I used the same flat brush but a size 3 round brush will also work well

When the botanical grey wash on the flower is completely dry I start to add the brighter red mix ( perylene maroon and perm magenta) as a chequered pattern. It doesn't need to be very neat and organised because the colour bleeds into the petals. It you paint it in too regimented a fashion it will look unnatural. I used a Rosemary and Co. size 2 spotter brush but again any size 2 brush will do, the shorter haired miniature brushes work well for this type of pattern because you have more control over them. I also add the same red mix to the stem, which has a reddish brown colour in places. The effect of painting red over green creates this brown colour. I always try to use the same colour in the stem or leaves as that used in the flower, where there is such colouration, this creates continuity in a painting and 'binds' it together.

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 6 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

Following the first wash of the red pattern I start to add the purple mix working in the same way but being careful not to completely cover the underlying red. I use a slightly more concentrate mix of paint for this purpose. I also darkened the shadows a little on the petals as I felt they were too light and add a little more detail to the leaves to balance the leaves with the flower.

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 7 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

I add the yellow mix to the anthers. Only closed anthers are showing here and the stigma is largely obscured. The anthers dehisce in stages to increase the chances of pollination, and in this flower they open to release pollen 3 at a time, thus extending the period of time available to pollinators. I only show the 3 closed anthers here and the tip of the stigma. Once they are all dehisced the stigma is clearly seen. So always pay particularly close attention to the reproductive parts as they change rapidly I also add a the same yellow in a very dilute mix to the petal tips. I add a little of the green mix to define the anthers down the centre. From here on it's really just a case of building up the colour. Where darker shades are required, such as down the central petal rib I add a small amount of neutral tint, this darkens the colour without changing it, I find that sometimes complementary colours change the colours because we are not dealing with true primaries with the watercolours ( if that makes sense?). I prefer use my own mix of neutral tint rather than a ready prepared one ( see colours above) but it's up to you. Be careful not to overpaint or lose the highlights. Finally I also add a little cobalt blue to the highlights at the top of the flower to brighten them. I probably should have done this earlier but things change as a painting develops and tweaks are required!

Finish off by adding some definition by using the dry brush technique define the petal veins, rib and pattern using a size 1 miniature or

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 8 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

spotter brush. Dry drush should alsways be applied last and is really just a more concentrate mix of paint applied with a 'damp' rather than wet brush. Mix the paint, load the brush until is swells ony slightly and then dab any excess waster on kitchen paper. If you havenet tried it befor it takes a bit of practise. I'll write more on it later as there are a few variations in the technique. That's about it! it's just the way I do it....it's not the only way.

P O S TED BY D I A N N E S U T H E R L A N D AT 0 2 : 0 5

Recommend this on Google

6 COMMENTS: shevaun 30 March 2013 03:11 Brilliant tutorial, Dianne and such a gorgeous subject too!! Reply

Julie Whelan DipSBA Botanical Artist 30 March 2013 03:29 Fantastic tutorial Dianne :) Beautiful painting too. Reply

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 9 of 10

Dianne Sutherland: Time for Some Colour!

6/11/13 7:33 AM

Claire 30 March 2013 10:37 Beautiful Fritillary, great tutorial xx Reply

Sigrid Frensen 21 April 2013 03:59 Your tutorials are really great. And I absolutely love this Frit. Very well done! ;) Reply

Darjeeling Darlings 29 April 2013 06:21 Your tutorials are fantastic! We love them! The Darjeeling Darlings http://darjeelingdarlings.blogspot.com Reply

Kathy Pickles 4 May 2013 09:49 Lovely to hear how you do things, Dianne. Reply
Enter your comment...

Comment as:
Publish

Google Account

Preview

Newer Post

Home

Older Post

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

http://diannesutherland.blogspot.com/2013/03/time-for-some-colour.html

Page 10 of 10