Red bouquet
Posted: January 28, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized 24 CommentsI often buy myself flowers, as much for the pleasure of painting them as for just having some colour to look at during our long grey winters. I select the bouquets carefully, trying to find the least expensive one with the most blooms. Preferably in the sale bin, and hopefully not yet dropping petals. This time, though, I splurged. This bouquet cost a bit more than I usually will pay, but I chose it for no other reason than the red flowers were so intense that even in the store I was imagining colours I would use to paint them.
This bouquet required pinks and reds that are not in my day-to-day palette — Permanent Magenta, Cadmium Red Scarlet Hue, and Pyrrol Crimson — special colours that live in my paint drawer until I can find the right use for them. Probably purchased on a whim and then forgotten (like many pairs of shoes in my closet).
Someone asked me the other day for some tricks about painting a glass vase. I can’t remember where I read or heard this advice, Charles Reid, perhaps: paint what’s in the vase, not the vase itself. I try to focus on the stems and give only the most minimal indications of the vase itself.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Lovely as always. My aunt who didn’t have much money( art teacher in Cleveland school system) always had fresh flowers. Said they are as essential to life as food. Not sure I agree with the last part but flowers sure brighten things up for me too. And you always paint flowers so well. Without the detail, they are more effective. I have to work on that.
Appreciate your advice on glass vase. Thanks.
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Your aunt was very wise. No doubt you take after her.
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Not sure it has to do with wisdom. (especially if you include me) My aunt was a very good artist. Maybe it is an appreciation that artists have . But that’s not fair , is it? Sorry-I know many non-artists love flowers as well.
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The flowers are worth every penny you paid for them, in fact far more. The painting is simply wonderful. The colors are lucious! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Bernadette. I never regret spending the money once they are home and in a vase.
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unbelievably beautiful and pretty.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Thanks!
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Please very much like.
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Gorgeous!
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Thanks so much Bev. Hope you’re doing well.
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What is the gorgeous deep red you used? Beautiful!!!
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Thanks Mary. The reds are a combination of the three I mention above. The deepest red is most likely Pyrrol Crimson. Great colour, isn’t it?
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Gorgeous!!! Thank you for sharing those flowers such that all us get to enjoy them… I’m a big fan of your splurge!! LOL And, thank you for that tip on how to paint a glass vase.
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Thanks Denise. My pleasure.
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As always, I am in awe of your paintings, and I will definitely have to come back in another life so I can learn to paint like you! LOL!
Hope to see you in Amsterdam, Shari!
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Pam, you are thinking of coming to Amsterdam? How wonderful. I hope to see you there!!
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Awesome painting!
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So beautiful!
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Thank you so much for this joy filled painting – you made my day – it’s the gift that keeps on giving – every time I look at it I feel uplifted! Flowers are truly food for the soul.
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I’m happy to hear that Mary. Flowers are food for my soul too. I’m still enjoying this bouquet on my kitchen counter.
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I always love seeing your sketches.
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This is a beauty!! I love how you arranged them so that they stretch out beyond the rim of the vase and occupy more space. The colors are gorgeous…you obviously must have loved the colors that were back home in your drawer. Thanks for brightening our drab, grey winter day too!
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Thanks Joan. Figuring out how to arrange the flowers in the vase is always a challenge. You want them to look like you just threw them in the vase without too much thought. I always discard the florist’s greenery, most of it at least, because it usually hides the blooms.
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My eyes are feasting on the colours, and the way the background perfectly complements the bouquet. Lovely. 🙂
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