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.