Giant Beauty

Last August I took a walk around my neighborhood with my new birthday camera.  As I turned a corner these beautiful hibiscus just flooded a front yard.  They were about 10 inches across and the light shinning on and through the pedals was magical.  I snapped away and then ran and got my sketch pad and made a few drawings, making notes about color.

Watercolor,  16" x 20"

©Carmella Tuliszewski  2011

After redrawing the flower on Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper, I spend a few hours experimenting with color, making charts as I go and notes about combinations.   Once I start painting it becomes an intuitive process and having the charts and notes by my side gives me an uninterrupted stream of thought as I work.  I also work from the photos on my laptop.   This allows me to see the color of light rather than the color of pigment, a more true reference.  

Once I get it about two-thirds of the way through, I close my laptop and continue to completion.