Yellow plus grey makes green
Posted: March 6, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bouquet, flowers 30 CommentsThis is the Valentine’s Day bouquet that keeps on giving. I received it on February 14th and it’s still beautiful three weeks later. A little shrivelled, I’ll admit, but highly sketchable. The flowers come from a florist — unlike my usual grocery store blooms — which has no doubt contributed to their longevity.
The drooping and curling shapes of this bouquet are still so beautiful. I felt that I couldn’t do them justice with a loose painting. Instead I chose to draw their complex forms on hot press paper using a water-soluble orange marker and then painted with watercolour, using a mix of Payne’s Grey and Lemon Yellow for the fading foliage. I like this mix for grey/greens, and you can get some great darks with it too.
Shari — your sketch is beautiful — Amazing! So glad you share. You state you used a orange marker. Question — Did you outline with the orange marker first and then fill in with the watercolor?
Irma, glad you like it. Thanks for having a look. Yes, I always draw with pen first and then add watercolour.
Shari Thank you so much for your quick reply. I have never tried using a Sharpie first and then w.c. — Hope to give it a try soon. fondly Thanks Irma
Gorgeous. What a great idea to draw with marker. I love seeing the lines
Thanks Laura!
Shari, It is beautiful and I love the greens made by mixing yellow and grey. Thank you.
That’s just stunning.
Maureen, thanks so much.
Great tip, Shari:)
I’ll try it out!
Thanks!
Glad it was useful!
This is an absolutely beautiful piece of art work, which reflects all your artistry Shari.
Ginie, thank you!
Great tip and your bouquet is lovely!
Your bouquet is lovely! Thanks for the painting tips!
De, thanks for having a look.
Love this painting! I’m curious about your choice of a water soluble orange marker, not to say that it isn’t effective. Vive Trudeau!
Hi Renee, Vive Trudeau!!!
I have been experimenting a lot of coloured line mixed with watercolour. I had this marker on hand so thought I’d try it. Last time I drew this bouquet, I used Copper Ink but that releases much more colour, so I thought I’d try something more subtle.
Shari
Shari — This comment states the Sharpie??? is water-soluble?? Did or do you use Water Soluble ? Since they will blurr etc???
I so love that painting! Thanks for the “green” tip! I’ve struggled before to achieve that particular shade of green and had never thought of mixing Payne’s Gray with Lemon Yellow. I also paint with acrylics so I’m going to experiment with those colors. Payne’s gray is one of my favorite tinting colors and I’ve used it with lots of other colors, but never lemon yellow.
Lovely reflection on the beauty of aging flowers. 🙂
Good Morning dear Shari,
Good work as usual.
Blessings
Uma
It’s beautiful. Never tried this mix of paynes grey and lemon yellow but now I will. Enjoy your flowers!💐
Amazing, Shari, I would never have thought of using an orange marker pen but it’s so successful; I’ll have to try it sometime!
Beautiful floral, as always. I would buy flowers more often if they would last that long. Would have liked to see your drawing.
Love this, it may be new favorite!
What a great bouquet portrait. I love the abstract quality and the colour palette.
This is fabulous, Shari! I love it ❤️
Thanks Nancy!
Lemon yellow and Payne’s gray – thanks so much for sharing this tip! I didn’t believe it until I mixed it myself 🙂 I, too, find that bouquets are lovely as they age. Not everyone agrees with me, but I, too, find that bouquets are lovely as they age. The colors AND shapes change. I’m so glad you posted your lovely painting!
And I’m glad that you tried the mix for yourself!