In the studio on a wonderful sunny day, we decided to paint sunflowers from the garden. First, we photographed them in the sun, and then with permission, we brought a few into the studio to paint. This is a perfect subject for wet on wet painting. Want to join us?
STEP ONE
Put on French music (or have a handsome young man whisper soft French phrases in your ear, stick a piece of chocolate in your mouth and get a glass of wine). You’re ready!
Wet on wet refers to painting on wet paper. The paper should have a slight shine…no puddles and no dry spots.
So, the first step to mix your paint in preparation. Mix medium values of Ultramarine Blue and also a green (New Gamboge + touch of Payne’s Gray). Also, mix a pile of medium value New Gamboge for the petals and medium value Burnt Sienna for the center.
Now wet your paper. Use a big brush and wet from side to side, top to bottom, being sure every bit has a shine. Then, lightly and loosely brush on the color. This is just a base coat, so don’t worry about forming individual petals or leaves. This step is just something to build on – Brush on bits of Ultramarine Blue and green (New Gamboge +Paynes Gray) over the background, then pull out a few petals shapes with New Gamboge. Don’t play! Just let the paint go where it wants to go. Have fun with this step. That’s what painting is all about, yes? We will ‘clean up’ the petals in the next step. So for now, enjoy! Be loose as a French goose.
If the paper is still shiny at this point, touch a bit of burnt sienna to the big center of the sunflower. Let this dry thoroughly.
STEP TWO – NEGATIVE PAINTING
In Step two you begin to form the petals of the sunflower with negative painting. What is negative painting? To paint negatively, you paint around the petal (paint the background darker), rather than painting the actual petal. You can even use the same two colors you already have mixed for the background, but darken them a bit by adding more pigment. Now you’re ready.
TIP: You don’t have to leave the petals as they are. The paint may have flowed out too far or in strange ways. Change them now! If they’re too big or misshapen, redraw them as you want them to be, then simply wet around that redrawn shape. This will easily change them into the shapes you like. With negative painting, you are the boss.
Here you go. After you’re sure you’re pleased with the shapes of your petals (or have changed them be penciling new petals) and have paint mixed, wet the background, carefully AROUND the petals. Look for an even shine on the paper. Then pick up background color and dab it onto the wet background, allowing the two background colors to mingle…and don’t worry! The paint will stay in the wet area, it will not go into the dry petals.
Viola! You have just formed wonderful petals shapes.
This is my demo after Step Two is completed. Note how some of the petals have edges that are lost into the background! Not everything must be defined in a painting. Leaving something to the imagination gives the viewers mind something to ponder. Not only that, painting is so much more FUN when you do not worry yourself with being perfect. PERFECTION IS PARALYSIS. Relax and enjoy painting!
STEP THREE
Now for the final details. Just darken the center with Dark Brown (Burnt Umber + touch of Winsor Violet). Wet the entire center, being sure the paper has a slight shine, then set the brush down at the top of the center and drag the color downward, letting it lighten towards the bottom of the center. It’s ok for it to be spotty. Sunflower centers are quite bumpy!
Then separate the petals where there are two or more that touch each other. Simply place a little more color on the back one to separate them.
That’s it! Done!
Did you pretend you were in France while you painted?
Feel free to use my sunflower photo to paint your own studies.
This was a quick lesson because we were off for the afternoon! If I get the chance, will send another lesson so that you can get a taste of what we do in the studio. I hope you enjoyed this one.
Kathie xo
Oh my goodness, Kathie! Sending us new lessons fresh from France that beg to be painted. You are the ABSOLUTE best of everything an artist should be. Thank you is really inadequate but words aren’t enough.
You are awesome! Wonderful lesson and pictures. Sheryl said it wonderfully. Glad you are having so much fun. Enjoying all the pictures you are sharing with us. xoxo
What a special treat, thank you Kathie. So sweet and sharing xoxoxox.
I can’t wait to play with this wonderful lesson. Guess it’s the next best thing to being with all of you. I’m also working on your magnolia batik pattern. It’s a challenge finding the petals but will try some negative painting!
Thanks again Kathie for sharing your wonderful experiences and painting tips with the rest of us. ☺
Please, get together and save all you have written, you have a book. A wonderful and colorful book!
So delicately lovely! Great lesson!
Wow! I love sunflowers and “you” for being so generous in sharing your trip & class. Can’t wait to paint it!
Love all the painting from the studio …..are you planning studio projects for Italy Oct ’15 ???? You are so inspiring and must run on ever-ready battery juice !
Love U – Marty
Marty, you betcha. I will definitely have lessons for Italy! And thanks to all of the rest of you. You are what keeps me going…..for real!
I love these Sunflowers. It reminds me of many years ago (when you were a budding artist) I took a Sunflower w/c class from you in Orlando, Florida …we then all went out to eat and a show at Medieval Times and you were the star “maiden”.
I hope I can get a spot for Italy. That sunflower lesson is awesome.
Should I be able to print the directions for “Painting Sunflowers in France”? I would love to try it, but my computer won’t let me print it.
Thanks, Kathy
Wahoo, another great lesson! Thanks for the inspiration. I love sunflowers. I can’t wait to try this one.