Gladioli
Posted: October 4, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 25 CommentsWhen I bought these gladioli at the market last week, the flowers were all closed. So I waited. And waited. And then I waited a little too long. By the time I found some time to paint them, the flowers were shrivelled. But then I noticed that the colours in the papery, decaying flowers was so much more intense than the open blooms. I squished out some Quinacridone Coral on my palette and mixed that with some Carbazole Violet for the darks. Painted in direct watercolour with a Rosemary rigger brush on a sheet of Saunders Waterford paper.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Love the darkness! The background is a great balancing act.
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Frank, thank you. I really enjoyed painting these. Just observing the beauty of each shape.
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Sent from my iPad
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Such beautiful reds, but I do love those shadow colors!!!
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Becky, thanks! I did have fun painting that shadow shape.
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beautiful
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Thanks so much Susie.
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Lovely, lovely, lovely! The color is magnificent.
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Thank you Bernadette!
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Totally abandonly marvellous!
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Vita, thank you so much!!
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I love the abstract qualities of this piece.
Lots of passion in those reds!
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I love this new Quin Coral I just bought. I may have to add it to my palette permanently!
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What rich color!!! You are such an inspiration to all of us! I have some orange glads in the same condition right now. I should give it a try.
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Donna, I hope you painted some glads too.
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Lovely highlight and background…
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Thanks!
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Such a strong statement. A good friend in another province passed away recently, so I find your subject today very touching.
I love the contrast of the delicate (but uplifting and optimistic) shadows to your very rich flowers – everything is so graceful – really nice.
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Chris, I am so sorry to hear this. Sending you a big hug today.
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Stunning colour! I really like that papery shadow.
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Thanks so much Deedster!!
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Hi Shari. I love this – the colours, the freshness, the composition, the coral bloom in the shadow – it’s lovely. If you are reticent about your direct-to-watercolour skills, you shouldn’t be :).
What colours did you use for the shadow – it’s gorgeous! xo
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Mary, I think I am starting to find the right tools for direct watercolour. The rigger brush and good paper really help.
For the shadow I used very diluted Cobalt Blue mixed with palette dirt, to get a warm grey.
At least, I think that’s what it is.
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These are gorgeous Shari! At first glance I thought they were a photo of the real gladioli! I love the intense mix of the two colours you used as well.
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This is a little less realistic than you usually paint. The two colors you mixed made a perfect dark for the darker red. Lovely!!
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