Seeing Red

This fifth painting in my "Flower Feast" series is the most involved composition and the brightest color scheme.  The purple background was a daring choice and I may go back in and tone it down a little but overall I am attracted to the colors here.  Sometimes placing a piece up on the screen enables you to see it more clearly then when it's right in front of you.  Looking at it right now as I type, I can see spots that need more of an accent while other spots need to sit back a little.

"Island Fancies"

Watercolor, 12" x 18"

© Carmella Tuliszewski

One of the things that holds this together are those little light green leaves.  Having just the slightest touch of a red outline unifies the overall composition.  The reds are all over the color spectrum from hot pinks to slightly subdued oranges.  Very fun to work with especially when combined with red's complement, green.

Well one more to go in this series.  Then what?  More on that later.

Now that I have a nice little bank of paintings, it's time to look beyond each individual piece and toward how they fit together to truly be called a series.  

Prepping a Picture

I am now back to my research from this year's Philadelphia Flower Show.  The theme was Hawaii which gave me the opportunity to photograph florals not easily found around here.  This will also become part of my Flower Feast Series I.  

Here's my next painting, composed, drawn and ready to go.  As you can see I use a few reference points.  My ipad for streaming to the large computer screen, great for true color and zooming in for details.  Also notice the black and white copies.  As I mentioned in the last post, a picture often is more about the values than the color.  However, it can be difficult to determine correct values when the color is so absorbing.  As an artist it is my job to separate these two elements of art and then put them seamlessly (I hope) back together.  So I keep black and white scans next to the painting as I work.

You will recognize the Bird of Paradise flowers and the others are Hawiian Ginger plants.

Beautiful complementary colors of reds and greens on this one that I am very excited to start painting.

Well, I'm off for my second cup of coffee and back to a fun day of painting and music.  

My new favorite is the Disney station on Pandora Radio.  Yes, Disney, Little Mermaid and Belle just make my day! 

Sparkling Petunias

I found the research for these petunias in, of all places, Atlantic City.  While shopping with my daugther at all their great outlet sotres, I noticed many beautiful pots along the street just packed with flowers.  I snapped away ( I always have my camera) and this painting is from a composit drawing.

"Sparkle"

from "The Flower Feast" series

Watercolor,  12" x 18"

© Carmella Tuliszewski

I'm always attracted to subjects that glisten in the sun.  But that's because I love to paint the shadows.

These shadows are filled with Thalo Purple, Vermilion hue and Permanent Rose with a splash here and there of Hookers Green because complements make the best shadows.  Since greens are not staining colors they are easily picked up and thats how I add the veins.  Run a thin brush with a little water  along the line you wish and a quick pick up with a tissue does the trick.  

But this, as with most of my paintings,  is more about value than color.  I always keep a black and white copy with me while I paint.  It makes it easier to see the darks and lights.

It's great to get back to work after a very busy end of summer.