School's out!

It's that time of year again! My boys are out of school now until 7th September, so that means I'm not working much! I've this painting to finish so need to grab a few hours here and there. I'm hoping it will be ready for an exhibition in the September. I really need to finish it in the next week, so it can dry. I tend to use the holidays to get out and about armed with my camera and exercise my boys at the same time!

Waterlily II

Whilst waiting for my other waterlily to dry, I've made a start on the next canvas. This is a small 10 x 10in oil painting. Its going to be very detailed and up close. The flower is semi submerged in the pond, the reflections and water drops are fantastic. I was fortunate to be in the Kew Waterlily House whilst it was being attended to be a gardener who was kitted out for aquatic pursuits. Gardening in a wetsuit?  Now that would give my neighbours something to talk about! The gardener had been busy tidying up the dead leaves, the result was that the waterlilies had been splashed, and this one pulled slightly below the water. 

Waterlily w.i.p

I've worked further into the background today, having a play with some of the colours. I've added alot more green/turquiose into the water. The waterlily pads have beautiful colours limes and magenta. I need to leave the background to dry now, then I will add the suble details and tone to the actual flower.

Delicate hues and tones

I made a small start on the actual flower today. I'm experimenting with the colours to capture the subtle shadows, and glowing highlights where the sunlight is reflected from the white petals of the lily.

Waterlily work in progress

I've decided to start on the background, this is due to the dark tonal values on the right. The waterlily has extremely delicate tones, so I needed a tonal guide of the overall composition, so the petals don't look too faint. The background is far from finished, I've just blocked in the basic colours and tonal values. I'm going to let this dry, then start work on the flower. Once I have most the detail of the flower I can work out how detailed the background needs to be, so it doesn't take away the focus from the flower.

Whilst this dries, I've another waterlily oil painting to start, so I'll get to that onto canvas tomorrow.

Next project

My next  project, or projects, I've two in mind. Both paintings are oil paintings of waterlilies. This one I've just put the oil paint skin on, which is a very dilute layer of paint. It's main function is to knock out the white canvas. The dimensions of this one are 16 x 12in, the other 10 x 10in, the small canvas is a close up of a waterlily. I got my inspiration this time at Kew Gardens, I'm very fortunate to have it on my doorstep, just a short bus journey away. In Kew there is the most spectacular glass house full of 

waterlilies, it's one of my favourite places in the gardens, it so peaceful.

Ponte Vecchio

I've put this on the shelf today, I've signed it, but not sure if it's totally finished, I need to ponder it and have a break from it. I'm pleased that I captured the illumination on the yellow walls and the reflection in the foreground. I need to live with the painting for a while to see if I want to pull any other elements out.