Most of us have a favourite flower. We plant them in our
gardens, we buy them at the florist, we are given them as bouquets to celebrate
a birthday, anniversary or to wish us a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, most
blooms have a short life. I adore flowers and as an artist, I have learned to
preserve something of their essence in a flower painting forever. If you have
ever wished you could do this with a favourite bloom, then read on.
Flower painting has a wonderful history. Botanical art has
been used to document numerous species of flowers and plants. There is
something very satisfying and magical about painting a flower and preserving
just what it was like forever. Of course, flower photographs can do the same
but when you paint you have the added pleasure of carefully examining the
curves and colours of each petal, stamen, stem and leaf. You have to observe
the way the light catches the flower and use this information to give it a 3D
presence on your paper. By painting flowers, you get to know them intimately.
I would advise anyone wanting to start painting, to begin
with, their favourite flower, no matter how complex it might seem. By choosing
your favourite, you will be motivated to try again to render it well. Your
feelings have a better chance of being transferred into your flower painting
too. When a flower painting makes you gasp, it is because it initially did the
same for the artist and they have found a way of sharing that with you. It
doesn't matter if your attempts aren't perfect. Each time you try you will
become more familiar with its shape. It will seem easier to paint and you will
notice more about the nuances of colour and the way light can affect it.
Of course, there are some useful techniques which might help
you learn flower painting. Many excellent art books have been written about
this topic and your bookstore will certainly have several. But be wary of
simply copying another artists' techniques. You may be surprised to find that
you are less satisfied with the results than you are with simply observing your
favourite flower and perfecting your vision of it with each attempt.
Try drawing with different materials, have fun and keep all
your attempts. You will be encouraged to see how your vision and skill improves
simply by practice. I use pastels, both the soft powdery ones and the
deliciously oily variety. I love them because of their beautiful range of
colours, from very pale to vibrant hues. I can extend this even further by
overlaying thin veils of colour, allowing the underneath ones to sing through.
Or perhaps you could try watercolour? This has long been a favourite of flower
painters and botanical artists and for good reason. The way you can allow one
luscious colour to randomly bleed into another, just as it does in nature, is very
mouth-watering!
As you can tell, I am fanatical about flower painting but I
do hope I have managed to awaken a little curiosity in you. Have a go! What
have you to lose?
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