Poppies 2007

2006-2007 Winter tests - Poppies
03/08/2007

Last winter, I had already experimented poppies drawing and painting. I had seen some examples of very nice watercolours of this rather simple flower. Perhaps too much... To fix it up, it's necessary to use the brush a "light" way, to get the right colour mix and the good quantity of water. My mistake had been to start with a too large drawing (12 X 16 "). My second test with a 9,6 x 12 " sheet was not more conclusive and I eventually tried colour pencils.

Colour pencils
on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
November 2005

This year, no question of giving up. I had to achieve each painting. I started with gouache. I thought this technique was a little bit easier than that I discovered. My school memories were too old to influence my work. I perhaps used gouache too much as watercolour and I had some difficulties to find the good mixes.

Gouache
on 140 lbs paper,
7,2 x 9,6 "
November 2006

Then I took brilliant watercolour. They bring more intense colours than watercolour but it's necessary to make many mixes with few basic colours. For my first test, I wasn't spontaneous enough. I couldn't avoid water traces because I didn't get a good balance between ink and water in my brush. For the second attempt, I prepared the right quantity of colour and I filled up the hairs of my brush. The result satisfied me. I carried out a last test with almost pure colour and I raised the layout with India ink. A little less realistic but pleasant too.

	Brilliant watercolour on 140 lbs paper, 7,2 x 9,6 " November 2006
	Brilliant watercolour on 140 lbs paper, 7,2 x 9,6 " November 2006
	Brilliant watercolour on 140 lbs paper, 8 x 8 " November 2006

My test with watercolour brought me some confidence back after last year disappointment (the word is a little bit too strong). I use watercolour all year long and I'm not able to paint a poppy ! No longer... On a smaller format, I reached my goal. But eventually, the result was pretty far from the examples I had in my head.

Watercolour
on 140 lbs paper,
8 x 8 "
November 2006

The last technique is a real innovation for me. Acrylic painting is getting more and more popular on Internet and in magazines. Near to oil paint in some aspects, but easier to use and odourless, the acrylic can be used with or without water. For this drawing, I had average range tools but it was enough to begin and build a first idea of the product. I let to you judge my first attempt.

Acrylic
on 140 lbs paper,
7,2 x 9,6 "
November 2006

At the end of my winter session, I realized that watercolour remained, for the moment, my favourite technique. And I still have many things to discover about it.

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