Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

I've been photographing the painting with my iPhone 5 and can't seem to square the image despite many efforts.  But, the phone does seem to take a fairly crisp image with accurate color.  And the Photo Stream option with the iCloud makes transfer to the computer a breeze.  Today I finished working the small blossom behind the large pink blossom.  Then I spend some time on a few leaves.  It was a nice respite to not only work a little looser, but to change palettes.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Today my house critic told me this was like looking at wrapping paper.  SIGH

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

After working several hours on the blossom behind and to the right of the large pink blossom, I feel that I have over-worked it and made it as distinct and important as the pink.  It doesn't recede behind the pink.  Tomorrow I will try to either up the brightness of the pink where it abuts the other blossom OR I will rework the 2nd blossom to reduce its crispness of line and color.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Slow progress on the large pink blossom.  But, I can see the forms of each petal solidify as the thin areas are repainted.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

As I look back on the dark values added to the pink blossom, I realize they are too intense.  I will need to gray them out a bit.  I also need to create higher contrast between the pink and blue edges.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

I lowered the intensity of the blossom on the left behind the large violet/pink blossom.  Hopefully, this will help it to recede.  We'll see when I work into the pink blossom and try to bring it forward.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

I spent the entire studio time on one leaf today.  When I asked the house critic if it was over worked, he only said, "I don't understand why you paint leaves that are damaged."  I said, "it makes things more interesting" and, of course, that is the way of nature. He contended that Botticelli would leave off a wart on the nose of his model.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Only had a small amount of time today. I reduced the value of the lower left corner blossom, which can hardly be seen here.  I'm ready to refine my values and begin to think about the overall unity of the piece.  A lot of white ground is still showing through, too.  When that is covered the colors will sing a it more.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

One hydrangea bush can produce a variety of blossom colors depending on the soil content.  Should the soil be high in pH the blossom are more pink; low pH results in blue blossoms.  Some gardeners try to control the color of the blossom by added lime or aluminum sulfate to the soil.  Our bush seems to be conflicted as it has a mixture of blue and pink blossoms.  This could be caused because the shrub is planted at the edge of woods with oaks and pine.  Yet, the bed it is planted in is limed each year.  So, perhaps the acidic soil of the woods is creeping into the limed flower bed and creating a cacophony of color.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

The smaller blossoms take longer and are more difficult to paint because of the small size of each petal.  So I didn't make as much progress today as I was hoping.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

Now that I'm working on smaller blossoms, working about 2 hours, I find that I can get in one a day.  I should finish this stage in about 4 days.  Then I can start working on color in a more unified manner, working on composition emphasizes a focal point.  Maybe the leaves can help with that.  I also think that the 3 small blossoms on the right edge can work as one large blossom to balance the 2 large blossoms to the left.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

When I observed the progress today, I was thinking the application is like a curtain that comes down area by area creating an illusion of solid forms.  And, I can visualize really clearly what I will be doing next.  It becomes easier and easier to see where future work will be.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

After my comments yesterday on whether or not to lessen the visual impact of the smaller blossoms,  I asked my house critic what his general impression was at this point.   He said it was very intricate and, for his personal taste, he needed a visual anchor.  I explained that the small blossom in the center would have a lot of yellow and I'm waiting to see if that accomplishes a focal point.  So, still considering how to handle movement within the composition and point of interest.  

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

As I work along, I'm no longer positive the smaller blossoms should be diminished somehow.  Choices are to blend the edges of the petals, gray out the color a bit or tint the color a bit.  As I complete more of the piece, though, I don't seem to mind all the blossoms holding the same importance (other than size).  

Hydrangeas, Etc.

Amaryllis, 10"x7", Oil on Board

Dahlia, 10"x7", Oil on Canvas

 

I spent most of today getting these two paintings ready for the Judith Klein Gallery,  Both are being reworked.  The Dahlia originally had a cobalt blue ground with some very loosely worked greens in the lower third.  The Amaryllis has been cut down.  Originally there was a dark blue pot and Oriental rug.  There is still work to be done.  I think I will increase the leaf sizes in the dahlia.  

Hydrangeas, Oil on Board, 23"x34"

I did find time to work in one more small blossom, right in the center.  Looking here I think I may be half way across the board.  I definitely need to lessen the intensity of the blue blossom in the lower left corner.