Watercolor Red Carnations

Goal

 

 

 

 Inspiration

A visual step-by-step tutorial of red carnations.

Materials

• Some probably hot-press watercolor paper I cut into approximately 3.5" • 5" rectangles.
• Various color papers cut into slightly larger rectangles for 'faux' matting.
• A pack of white 5.25" • 7" blank white scored cards and envelopes.
• Some quality watercolor brushes my aunt gave me upon her trip from England.
• A 24 pan set of Yarka St. Petersburg Artists' Watercolors she also gave me.
• A roll of 1" 3M Scotch Masking Tape.
• A hard back vinyl-cover binder to tape the paper to.
• A jar for water, and lots of rinses and refills.

 

Step 1:  Tape and sketch.

Tip:  Stick the tape to clothing before applying to the paper.  This isn't the first time I've tried it, but I read online that this will keep it from tearing the paper.  However, this seems to tear the paper.  This time I tried sticking it twice to clothing.

Sketch the image lightly.  You can't erase pencil lines after you paint over them.  You could sketch in a watercolor pencil.

Step 2:  Prepare your color scheme.

I skipped making a physical color scheme because the Value Chart I'd just made was still drying on the back of the pad of watercolor paper I have but don't like.  Looking at that, I visually chose Ruby (transparent) and used that alone on the front right petal of the large carnation.  The other petals have a touch of Quinacridone Rose (transparent), and the darkest ones also have Claret (transparent).  For the stems, I think Lemon (transparent), Azure Blue (transparent), and Green Light (transparent).  I had to do several washes because my yellow was too intense, I should have painted the stems in sections as indicated, and I forgot to test my mixes on the color scheme page.

Step 3:  Paint the petals.

Paint the petals one at a time, letting each petal dry before painting its neighbors.  For the front two petals, fill each with a water wash, and add pigment to the base, drawing it towards the frilly edges and letting it fade the further from the stem it gets.  The darker petals are filled in fairly solidly with pigment.  Next time I will do an all-over wash of petals and stems first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Step 4:  Paint the stems.

Paint the green portions all at once, starting with a wet, blotchy layer of yellow, adding daubs of blue, and allowing them to bloom, or coercing them if necessary.  A hint of orange or red would be appropriate on the receptacle, near the petals.

 

Step 5:  Remove the tape.

The paper didn't tear when I removed the tape this time.  I will start sticking it twice to clothing before using it on the paper.

Results

Sticking the masking tape to clothing twice before applying it to the paper kept the tape from tearing the paper upon removal.

I need to make a physical color scheme so I test my mixes in advance.  I should use my palette to actually make the mixes. 

I should have done a pale yellow wash (or blue) first, so the flowers would have a background.  I should have also done a pale red wash on the overall petal area and a pale yellow-green over the stem area.

I like the overall result.  Making the above changes should make the painting go faster
and ultimately also look more realistic.  This is greeting-card size, so it will do double duty
as part of a set of greeting cards I'll give as a Christmas gift.