For Rose - Kuckenhof Garden
By Scotsgran
4 Mar, 2015
2 likes
I was persuaded to accompany a friend to an new art class. The tutor a professional artist gave us a bundle of photos from old calendars and asked us to choose one and draw what we saw. I tried but I could not relate to what I was trying to draw. Neither could my friend. I had a photo taken in 1995, of this stream of blue muscari winding through the trees, and tried drawing that. It did not look too bad in shades of grey so I did another using coloured felt tips. The tutor felt I should try an A3 watercolour. I found the process thoroughly absorbing but my friend had had enough and stopped attending. As the road we had to travel was not very nice and a better route would have taken much longer I decided not to return to the class the following term. As I had 'finished' this painting I was very pleased with myself and got it framed. Once hung up I kept seeing that it did not feel right but I did not have a clue about how to improve it. Any tips will be gratefully received. The bit that annoys me most is the gap between the trees where the 'river' trails off in to the distance. i don't know how to give it depth. The rhododendron bushes are not right either. These are the most glaring deficiencies.
Comments on this photo
Sorry Scotsgran......I thought Kath had put up this blog. She wouldn't mind me giving her the art lesson hope it helps. You can ask advice at any time. :0) I taught art for years.
5 Mar, 2015
I wish this photo could be enlarged so that I could see your detail. I think you should have stuck at it , because if this is your first painting, then I am very impressed ! Don't give up ! Your Rhody bushes need hiding slightly. What I mean is, to stipple the leaves so that a few leaves hide some part of the flowers. I have a different way of doing water colours. When a bush or flower is done , I then use the smallest dry brush and put a tiny bit of colour out of the tube onto my palette ( no water added ) and stipple the leaves. I'm sorry I can't explain it better ! What you could do is practice on a bit of paper experimenting different methods. All I can say about the depth in your scillas is that the foreground is always clearer and more detailed and the background colours have to fade. If you look at plants in the garden, you'll see the light and shade on them too.
When I finish a painting I usually leave it a day or two before I frame it , because I often see things that I can improve on. Everyone develops there own style . I do hope you do another painting and I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
5 Mar, 2015
Thank you both for your help. I will mull over what you have said and I might try to alter it. Sorry Linda the river is of muscari not scillas. I'll be back but maybe not for a while. Those rhodos really grate on me.
6 Mar, 2015
Hi Rose I have just learned how to enlarge photos on this site by holding down Control (Ctrl) and the + key at the same time.To reduce it use the - key. I have to thank snoopdog for this gem of info. I wished to enlarge a photo of a pond on another blog by an new member and snoopdog responded to tell me how. The whole site enlarged so now I can also read what is written more easily.
25 Mar, 2015
The only thing I would say Kath is the river of Scillies looks a bit like a path. With watercolour you need to add water to your paint to thin it and soften the colour so it fades into the distance. Stronger colour to the front softer as it recedes. The Rhoddies need some dark shapes where the leaves fall into shadow and the flower heads would be better if there were not all equal size and spacing.It really is a lovely painting. The trees, sky and the flowers at the front look great. (You did ask. :0) )
5 Mar, 2015