Red Velvet
Posted: April 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized 59 CommentsOn the weekend my sister handed me a bouquet and said something like “I expect to see these painted”. I stared at the flowers for a few days, appreciating their beauty and also wondering how I would render, in watercolour, the deep red roses and contrasting green chrysanthemums. As I often do, especially after a break from painting for a few days, I painted the flowers twice. The first try just didn’t have the intensity of colour I hoped for (detail below) so I started again.
Starting with the roses, I approached the bouquet differently the second time round. This time, instead of starting with a light pink wash on the roses, I painted them deep red to begin with, hoping to capture some of their velvety texture. (I regret not taking a process photo of that first wash!). While that was still wet, I went into the flowers with even darker tones to show the shadow areas on the blooms. The second big shape was the pale green flowers which I kept separate in colour from the foliage. From there I painted the gerbera and then the rest of the leaves.
I’m glad I attempted this a second time because it was a great learning experience, but I have to end this with a note to my sister: Don’t stop bringing me flowers but next time, can you pick something easier to paint?
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Wow. Great save. Christine
LikeLike
Sometimes it’s worth it to give something a second try. Often the second version has the added bonus of being a little looser too.
LikeLike
Love this post AND the paintings! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks for writing Marie.
LikeLike
Breathtaking! You hit the nail on the head, Sherry! I sighed out loud when I saw this beauty.
LikeLike
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much. The reds I used are Permanent Alizarin Crimson as well as Organic Vermillion. For the darker reds I added Carbazole Violet and Ultramarine Blue to get that deep reddish purple.
Shari
LikeLike
Sherry – I forgot to ask – can you say something about which red(s) you used? And the greens – can you say how you got your greens? Thanks very much. I’m still bedazzled!
LikeLike
Forgot to tell you what greens I used…
For the pale chrysanthemums I used Holbein Spring green mixed with yellow, and for the darker greens I used Sap Green mixed with Cerulean.
Shari
LikeLike
WOW, what an absolutly lovely painting! And thanks to your sister for the inspiration.
LikeLike
Yes, I thanked her too!
LikeLike
Wow! Love that second attempt. Gives me encouragement for when I don’t like what is happening, I can always try another one.
LikeLike
Oh yes, I do that all the time! Sometimes it takes three tries to get something I like.
LikeLike
The bouquet is gorgeous! Thanks too for sharing your first attempt on the roses. You continually teach us as you grow through the process of painting. I’m so glad to have found your blog!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Bernadette.
LikeLike
Beautiful!
Beautiful deep red!
What is the secret color(s)?
LikeLike
Shari, I, too, would like to know what red(s) you used for that deep, rich color. Beautiful results.
LikeLike
Here you go: The reds I used are Permanent Alizarin Crimson as well as Organic Vermillion. For the darker reds I added Carbazole Violet and Ultramarine Blue to get that deep reddish purple.
LikeLike
Thanks Marc. There’s no secrets here! The reds I used are Permanent Alizarin Crimson as well as Organic Vermillion. For the darker reds I added Carbazole Violet and Ultramarine Blue to get that deep reddish purple.
LikeLike
OMG another color I never heard of-organic vermillion. Have to give it a try. Is it useful often?
LikeLike
It is a very useful colour and I use it often. It the warm red on my palette and Alizarin is the cool red.
LikeLike
I actually love the 1st one!!! It has a ‘quirkiness’ about them that makes me smile. I know you do ink work, what if you added some outlines in ink? Oh, I love the other piece too! And I hope your sister continues to send flowers too! ~Billie
LikeLike
Hi Billie, I think if I had finished the first one it would have come out fine too. But in my head I had a picture of something that was painted with deeper colours, so I had to do that. The ink would not work on this paper (Arches) because it’s too textured for my fine pens.
LikeLike
I love the quirkiness of the 1st one! Maybe you should add your ink work to it?? Just a thought. I hope your sister continues to send flowers too!
LikeLike
Beautiful Shari- I enjoy your blog very much – it is inspiring as you distil your technique . It would bw great to see your working process on a video. Have you thought about making time lapse videos on a Youtube channel? Cheers from from Down under. Agnes
LikeLike
Hi Agnes, thanks for writing. I have thought about making videos but I have a full-time teaching job. I barely have time to paint as it is, so adding video recording to that would send me over the edge. I suppose I could do it in the summer but then I travel and teach. But it is on my list for when I stop teaching one of these days.
LikeLike
Your blog is one I must visit even though I’m limiting my online time post eye surgery and difficulties. And I’m never sorry. This is stunning and those colours sing. Red roses are so difficult but you nailed them. Thanks for the lesson. 😉
LikeLike
You had eye surgery? It seems to me I have seen you posting work on social media. Have you been doing this after eye surgery? Hope you are recovering well Ros!
LikeLiked by 1 person
All pre op sketches. I’m just sharing stuff from last years road trip 😁 Recovery is frustrating seeing the world out of focus.
LikeLike
Read your comments on Shari’s flowers and jut want to say my thoughts are with you. Just a week ago, after about 10 weeks, I gained complete vision in my left eye. I know what it is like to have vision obscured. The best to you in your recovery. Miss your posts.
LikeLike
I’m happy to hear you have complete vision now. Fingers crossed here.
LikeLike
You pretty much nailed the second one. There is one thing you might try; use a light yellow under painting prior to using red….It will make the red really pop. I don’t know why it works but it does.
LikeLike
Well, thanks so much for that tip. I will certainly try adding a yellow glaze under the red. I bet it makes the red glow. Great idea!
LikeLike
Very nice painting Shari; and you make it look so easy!
LikeLike
Thanks so much John.
LikeLike
i love the way working in the wet red allowed you to get the soft curve of the rose petals. And then later working drier you created transparent yet overlapping petals for the gerbera-nice!
LikeLike
Thanks Holly. Yes, I did work in several different ways on this one. A bit of wet-in-wet and later some wet on dry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! You always capture things so we’ll be it landscapes or flowers. Bet the flowers smelled better!?
LikeLike
Thanks for writing Dottie.
LikeLike
Rich and beautiful!
LikeLike
Thanks Missy. You must be out sketching the tulip fields these days.
LikeLike
It’s wonderful to read your process while looking the whole time at your first attempt (and wondering if it was the first or final) and then to scroll down….. to see your final one — I was gobsmacked! Thanks for sharing your learning — you continue to inspire!
LikeLike
And thank you for taking the time to write Lisa. I really appreciate it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just want to add my HURRAYS to all the other wonderful comments! I too have always found roses the most difficult flower to paint – Now you’ve motivated me to practice, practice, practice!!
LikeLike
Thanks Gayle! Get out and buy some roses. Or even better, get someone else to buy you flowers to paint.
LikeLike
They are so beautiful, both of them — and so dimensional! Bravo to your sister for putting you to the challenge. She knows just what you need.
LikeLike
Sisters are like that. They know just what to do at the right time. At least mine does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your bouquet, and I actually stopped to take a close look at the vase, which I find true and lively with just the nice level of abstraction. It’s the structural background that brings things altogether, I like that!
My Maman, back in France, used to call flowers from the gender Saxifraga ” désespoir du peintre”, and I wondered why until I tried to sketch them…I guess saxifraga wouldn’t be a good choice in a bouquet for you 😀
LikeLike
Your flowers are always so wonderful. I too was surprised as I scrolled down. I can only agree with all that has been said. I just cannot paint flowers–and I try. Maybe a Craftsy course on flowers? A far cry from the course on the city.
LikeLike
She’s brought you flowers before:) I wish I could paint a real looking rose:)
Shari..we were at Jean Talon a couple of weeks ago..there is an Instagrammer..La Marchande De Fleurs..(Binette et filles flower stall at the market)..anyway..here’s her trick for tulips..and it works..you won’t get the floppy look I do love..but you will get tulips that stay poker straight and last at least 10 days(for me today..Costco ones).
Buy them.. don’t cut the stems..put them in the smallest amount of cold cold water..just to cover the bottoms of the stems..ice cold water..top off w/ ice cubes every few days..
Total opposite of my floppy technique.
LikeLike
Stunning!
LikeLike
Such a beautiful harbinger of spring.
LikeLike
The berry-type flowers, so clear and real, the top of those green-type flower-balls, the richness of the red roses, the just-right background – Shari, you created beauty from beauty. Thank you for sharing both.
LikeLike
And WOW! What a difference!
LikeLike
Amazing! (as usual :0)) This is such a great example of how to paint roses. Simplify the shapes and wet in wet. Really gorgeous.
LikeLike
It really was a good leaning experience for me Janine. I will use this technique in other places too.
LikeLike
You got such wonderful deep reds in the second one…just lovely!!!
LikeLike
Thanks Joan.
LikeLike
Really like how the second one turned out. Good lesson in not giving up
LikeLike
Thanks Mary.
LikeLike