Demonstration continued

Step 4

1 Prepare four pools of:

Soft green made from transparent yellow and French ultramarine Permanent rose

Quinacridone magenta with a touch of French ultramarine

A stronger mix of permanent rose and viridian green

2 Wet the petal and add a hint of the pale green towards the outer edge, letting the paint flow towards the centre of the flower.

3 Using permanent rose, cut along the inner edge of the centre of the flower and coax the paint towards the outer edge.

In this example the base began to dry so I took the opportunity to taper a few wet-on-dry brushstrokes towards the outer edge which suggests the veins. Avoid painting up to the pencil edge on the right-hand side so as to leave a gap of white.

3 While still damp apply the mix of quinacridone magenta and French ultramarine towards the deeper centre, drawing the brush in the direction of the growth of the veins.

4 Finally while still slightly damp apply the stronger creamier mix of permanent rose with viridian, again painting from the centre outwards indicating stronger veins. This will help create the petal's shape and form. Leave to dry before continuing with the adjacent petal. Each petal varies slightly in tone. Add a base of green towards the centre on the second petal before adding the pink shades.

Step 5

A small piece of plastic card can be effective in scoring out veins before the paint dries, seen in the lower petal of the top flower.

2 The lower flower is slightly deeper in tone as it is in the shade of the first one. Continue with the colour mixes used previously, but make a little stronger and creamier. Red and green are complementary colours that neutralise each other when combined to create a rich shadow shade.

Step 6

1 Continue painting the remaining petals, observing the form of the petals and the variation of colour and tone.

2 Finally add a suggestion of the fine veins using the tip of the brush loaded with a mix of permanent rose and viridian. Draw the brush from the centre outwards so it tapers to a fine point.

Step 7

1 Prepare three pools of colour:

Transparent yellow

Quinacridone magenta

A muted pink shade of quinacridone magenta with a touch of viridian green.

2 Approaching the vase with a wet-on-wet technique creates a soft effect. With a No. 6 brush wet the entire area of the vase. Continuing with the No. 6 brush, drop in a hint of transparent yellow, followed by quinacridone magenta and finally the muted pink shade. Sweep the brush to indicate its form and apply against the edge of the lower petal where a shadow is cast.

Step 8

1 Prepare a pale mix of permanent rose with a tiny touch of viridian green. Once the base of the vase is dry, add the decorative detail, wet on dry to produce a flat wash.

2 Once completely dry strengthen the shadowed area under the flowers. Re-wet the vase with a glaze of water and drop in a stronger mix of permanent rose and viridian green.

3 Prepare a pool of transparent yellow with Winsor blue (green shade). Wet the background, cutting around the flowers and leaves and using the No. 6 brush add the green mix, sweeping it to the outer edge of the paper.