Flower share
Posted: July 8, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 61 CommentsI’ve been a subscriber to the CSA program of La Ferme Tournesol for over a decade, and have happily been enjoying plentiful baskets of vegetables every summer. This summer I also decided to take part in the flower share since I am home to enjoy the bouquets. This week’s was full of amazing blooms, most of which I can’t even name.
Before I painted this today, I rewatched a Charles Reid video on painting flowers. I do this periodically when I feel that my flower painting looks too dry and stiff. He reminds me of several useful skills that I always seem to forget:
- Start with a contour drawing first, and really observe changes in direction of the contour
- Clean the palette often
- Use a REALLY wet brush
- Paint vertically
- Take your time
After I watch the video my work ends up looking like his. Lots of little drips and splatters, which happens when you paint vertically with a very wet brush. But overall it helps me paint a fresher looking bouquet, which is always what I aim for.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
just beautiful!
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Thanks so much Maureen!
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Shari,
That’s just splendid! so CLEAR.
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Thank you so much!!
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Beautiful!
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Thanks Sarah.
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Magnifique bravo
Envoyé de mon iPhone
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Merci François!
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This is just lovely!! Wow!
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Thanks so much Linda!!
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Love how fresh this looks!
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Great to hear from you Cleti. Hope all is well with you!!
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“Spot on !” I remember Charles fondly ! Do you know Steward White ?
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Thanks so much James. I think I was once in a painting event in New York with Stewart White. I like his work very much. Thanks for reminding to have a look at his watercolours.
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Really beautiful
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Thanks Chris!
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Wish there were a “love” button to press! this is just wonderful and clean and fresh!!
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Ah Linda, that is so nice!!
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Absolutely lovely! I watched the short preview video for Charles Reid, and yes, I totally get the idea of painting the watercolour in a vertical position. Also noted, the amount of water on his brush and how he twists and turns the brush to begin painting each flower petal or leaf. I want to get away from the “tight” watercolour and loosen up, so these were great tips, and a great example you’ve done of this technique. Thanks Shari! I’ll give it a try on my next plein air sketch.
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Hi Peri, It really is an excellent video and I recommend it highly. Watching it always helps me have a wetter brush!
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Shari…I always enjoy popping my Charles Reid videos in from time to time. His style was rather unique to him, and his results were always amazing. Thanks for the reminders from him. Your painting is wonderful!
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Thanks so much Rita. Like you, I can watch Charles Reid videos again and again. He never ceases to amaze me.
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Once took a workshop from Charles. He would be very impressed with your bouquet. Will you do any more online classes again soon? Love them.
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Hi Roben, Thanks so much. I regret never taking a workshop with Charles Reid. You are lucky you got to meet him and see him work. As for more classes, yes, there are a few in the works!!
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Once took a workshop from Charles. He would be very impressed with your bouquet. Will you do any more online classes again soon? Love them.
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I think this is very beautiful!
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Thanks so much Jane!
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I’m loving all the shades of green here. I’m certain having a really wet brush helps to get the suggestion of all the colors in the painting. How beautiful!!
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Thanks so much Sue!!
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Beautiful! I love it!
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Thanks Tricia!
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Flower share
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You are clever.
Wayne Bissky, BA. C.Ed, M.Arch. Architect AIBC, MRAIC, FCA 204 – 22320 Lougheed Highway Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2T4 P. 604-467-8300 C. 778-288-6730 E. wayne@bisskyarchitecture.ca Sent from my iPhone
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No. Just persistent!!
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Stunning, so fresh!!!! Thanks for that link to the Charles Reid video! I will watch for sure! He was a great painter! He sketched right into my sketchbook during a course I took with him! A real keeper for sure!
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How lucky that you got to take a course with him Angie! I am envious.
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Good Morning dear friend Shari,
Very lovely sketch. I like your technique in painting the Glass jar and the water and water level.
Amazing color combination..
Blessings.
Uma
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Many thanks Uma!
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Can’t think of any way to describe this that hasn’t been said. Lovely, beautiful, gorgeous, etc. What did you use for the outlines or contour drawing? Pen, pencil? what size? I think the delicacy of the lines adds to that of the flowers.
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HI Judy. Thanks so much for all the adjectives. For the contour drawing I used a 2B pencil, and sharpened it several times during the process.
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Simply Stunning.
I was lucky to take 3 of his workshops.
Elly
Sent from my iPad
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You certainly were lucky Elly!!
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Charles Reid has been a favorite if mine for many years. He would smile if he could see your bouquet so masterfully painted.
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Thanks Bernadette. I regret not taking a workshop with him.
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Wow, Shari! I love this! Good old Charles Reid! Besides you, I’ve followed hm for a long time. Put the two of you together, and it’s powerful.
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Thanks so much Margaret. He clearly had many fans. I’m glad that I accumulated many of his books over the years.
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Hey, Shari! After reading one of your previous blog posts, I purchased the OLDER book on Flower Painting by Charles Reid (“Flower Painting in Watercolor”), and I now have BOTH the OLDER and the NEWER book (“Painting Flowers”)! There’s lots to learn in both books. Another “take-away” for me (especially in the earlier book), is his repeated warnings to be sparing with darks, to avoid “holes” in your painting, and to make your darks really count by using them judiciously.
Enjoying your posts, as always! This is a challenging time for artists, everywhere, and YOU are a bright spot in an often somber landscape!
-Barry
p.s. Did you see my feature article in Watercolor Artist (August 2020 issue)?
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HI Barry, There are so many words of wisdom in his books that I do read them again and again. I think I probably have most of them. Thanks for the reminders about holes and darks. So true!!
I haven’t received my August issue of Watercolour Artist. They seem to always take a little longer to arrive in Canada. Now I really have something to look forward to. How exciting!! And a big congratulations!! Shari
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Love it!! Beautiful and fresh ….please do send more paintings of flowers and any tricks that you can share!! Thank you,
Mira
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Hi Mira. Thanks!! I will certainly do more of these. I can’t wait to receive my next bouquet from the farmer.
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..great work..I have Charles Reid’s books..ALL..a few weeks ago I was thinking about him so I Googled him & discovered he passed a year ago on that exact date in June last year..so sorry..he will be missed..I was sad for days..
Brenda Staresnick San Marco’s TX
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Hi Brenda, I know, so sad to hear about this last year. I think I saw news of his death on Facebook when a student posted something. As I have said to many people in the comments on this post, I am sorry that I never took a workshop from him. Such talent.
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Simplement magnifique! You are sooooo good! Eagerly waiting every day for your new sketch!
Claire
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Merci Claire. That is so nice!
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I can just imagine what a bouquet from our favourite farm is like, and you have captured the freshness and wild abandon of it wonderfully! That white daisy is truly delightful!
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Alison, you would love the bouquet. Such amazing flowers. And of course they last a long time because they are so fresh when you receive them. I will certainly do this again. I’ve been enjoying the bouquet all week, and I get another one soon!
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A master following the steps of a master. This is beautiful! I would never think to paint vertically to do flowers. I’ll have to try that.
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Joan, you are too kind. Yes, you have to try painting with your paper vertical. It changes the way the paint moves on the sheet. Hope all is well with you!
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Hi Shari! Lots of comments on this post, all reiterating “stunning”, “beautiful”, “fabulous”! This certainly deserves all the praise and awe from your followers. Thanks for the reminder to review Charles Reid’s work. I like Joantav’s observation “the master following the master”. Well said.
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Thank you too Denise. Yes, lots of kind words for this one!!
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Just beautiful!
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