Sorry zinnias
Posted: September 24, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 50 CommentsI managed to scrounge up a few sorry looking flowers in my garden so that I would have something to sketch today. The asters are just beginning to bloom but the zinnias, sadly, were not a success right from the start. Clearly, I did not read the nursery tags properly when I bought them because I was hoping for tall flowers for cutting, and ended up with short ones that got eaten by bugs. Oh well… These are the last few that were intact enough to cut.
I painted them in direct watercolour, meaning no pen or pencil drawing to start. Sometimes with flowers, the freshest way to go is just to put down the colour on white paper. I start with the blooms and then connect them with greenery, adding layers of negative painting as I go. Painted on a block of Hahnemuehle The Collection watercolour paper.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Great color!!! I have those sad looking zinnias also. The bugs had a good season. Thank you for one of the last hurrahs of summer.
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The bugs did have a very good season everywhere, I guess. Thanks for having a look, Donna!
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Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!! I’m in awe of your watercolor bouquets. Just beautiful!
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Thanks so much Sharon!
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Sorry zinnias maybe, but lovely painting definitely!
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Tony, thanks!!
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Wow!!! You are so inspiring with every post! Here I think there is little left to paint in my garden and you create such a beautiful view of fall!!! Love your colors and your explanation of your approach. I am going to try just putting paint to paper. What colors did you use?
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Hi Linda,
Thanks so much. I used lots of colour in this one but mostly Transparent Orange, Sap Green and Carbazole Violet. Probably a bit of Quin Rose too, for the big zinnias.
I bet there’s something decaying in your garden too. Those are often the most interesting subjects!
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You’ve honored them quite well in their final days of glory. Beautiful painting!
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Thanks so much De!
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Elegant and lively! And with so much character. Beautiful!
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Thanks Alison!
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I love this painting!
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A more than marvelous painting!
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Thanks!
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Just absolutely stunning!
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Thanks so much Elly.
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Not bad for sorry-ass zinnias!!!!
Painting is beautiful & fresh Shari.
M
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Thanks Mary!
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Wow!
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Thanks Sandi!
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It sparkles!
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Thanks so much Chris.
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I think they’re beautiful! Love orange and purple together. By the way, thanks so much for the tip Hahnemuhle on the paper! I received my sample today. Can’t wait to try it out.
Thanks again?
Margaret
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Thanks Margaret. Hope you like the paper as much as I do!
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Evil bugs! cannot tell it by your lovely painting however. Nice paper, isn’t it?
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It sure is nice paper. I guess you have tried it too!
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No matter the state of the flower or plant Shari can give it a beautiful brilliance.
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Ah, that is so nice. Thank you!
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Exquisite color!
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Thanks Bernadette!
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Wow! You made something so beautiful out of those “sorry looking flowers.”
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Thanks Joan!
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You still make ’em look great!
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Thanks Todd!!
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I think this is lovely. And thank you for mentioning the Hahnemuele free samples last week. I wrote then and got my samples immediately. I plan to use them in the next few days.
Elaine S Robinson 836 Cole Street San Francisco,CA 94117 415 661 5393 awc.esr.836@gmail.com
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I hope you like the paper as much as I do!
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So beautiful. Our flowers are really gone. I am starting to like direct watercolor more and more. thanks to the painting a day month. But I also miss the drawing part so trying to do both.Never realized direct watercolor works so well with flowers. thanks.
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I do that too Judy. Sometimes I draw and sometimes I go straight to brush. It really depends on the scene and how patient I am feeling that day. If I am impatient I don’t look carefully at the shapes as I am painting, so having some pencil lines helps.
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Very beautiful Colors are fantastic…
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Thanks so much Sai!
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Thanks to you also for sharing good paintings
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Gorgeous florals, even if not the perfect specimens.
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Thank you Betty!
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Just beautiful, orange, purple and green is one of my favourite combinations. I love the way you have painted the one upper left as it is turned away – you can see the underside of the bloom. Very nicely depicted! I think there are a few sad blooms left in my garden, I’ll have to go look.
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Thanks Iona. I was happy with the way the underside of that bloom came out too! Happy accident, probably : )
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Shari, really like your paintings. I felt so sad when you had so much rain because we had drought. Now I wish I could send you zinnias. First time in a long time that zinnias grew [without bunnies eating them] and have flourished. It is wonderful to share in this way–when one person has one thing and another person has another.
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Elaine, I wish I could receive your zinnias too. I am just not good with them.
I’m sorry you had a drought this summer. I hope it’s better now.
It was a bad summer in so many place.
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As always Shari, your use of colour is inspirational
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Thanks so much!
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