These two sketches came about as I practiced with mixing wet paint on wet paper, and wet paint on dry paper. To start, I took a big brush and painted a broad line of water across the top of the page before adding the flower heads. The flower stalks were put on after the paper was dry.
In this first example I made the top of the page too wet, so that when I added the red/white mixture and the dark spot – things diffused too much. You can really see this on the left and right flower heads. With the two in the middle, I subsequently added a little more detail as the paper dried. I like the effect I got by going back and adding something as the paper dried.
In this second example – I used less water to start which made it easier to get the softer effect of poppy petals.
Really like these, Doug. I personally prefer the top ones – I think the added detail – gives that sense of the different ways the petals fold & fall when moving in a breeze. Poppies are so delicate, so frail. Whereas for me the bottom ones are too similar, too uniform.
Thanks Rachel, I know what you mean about the top ones – the two in the middle in particular. As is often the case – I’d quite like to combine elements of both….maybe further attempts are required? 🙂