My Art in the Making #1 David Austen Roses
The painting David Austen Roses was inspired by the incredible flowers on offer at the NYC 28th Street flower market. The yellow, white and fuchsia pink blooms were exciting to the eye. The set up did not take long because the flowers in any arrangement were compelling. One main glorious bloom in golden yellow was so beautiful I placed it front and center. Some say that the composition should always be off center and to never place anything in the middle, but I find this type of composition to be engaging and balanced and the main concept when the subject matter demands it.
STAGE 1 ESTABLISHING COLORS
In the initial session, the composition is established with a painted drawing using a mixture of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. This serves as the skeleton of the painting to follow. For flower paintings, the initial drawing also includes the dark greens of the stems and leaves to give a sturdy base to the composition. These elements are usually the darkest darks in the painting. From there, indication markers of color and value of each flower are noted in the darkest dark areas. After the drawing sketch, the background and table are roughly painted in the correct color and value. The lightly toned canvas serves as the lightest light for the time being. Now a value range is established from the lightest lights to the darkest darks.
STAGE 2 PROGRESSION OF BRUSHSTROKES
STAGE 4 FLOWERS ARE FINISHED
The flowers are completed. I will rarely go back and rework the petals and flowers once they are completed. By this time, the flowers have wilted and I can no longer paint what I see, so I do try to work quickly and efficiently while they last. It is a race against time. Some work begins on the glass vase, leaves and stem. The contrast between the lively natural blooms and the transparent reflective vase with water gives the painting surface interest, some mystery and depth. Some additional work is done on the surface table to enhance the values and cast shadows to give more solidity to objects inhabiting the space.
STAGE 5 FINISHING TOUCHES
David Austen Roses, oil on linen, 15 x 16" (38 x 41 cm)
The final painting maintains the initial concept of an animated and colorful central bloom in high contrast to the darkest darks of the leaves in the vase. The vase is handled with darks as a strong contrast next to the lighter and more colorful flower. The details and reflective light within the vase is handled with subtle tones to not take away from the flowers. It serves as a base for the main event. The viewer’s eye goes straight to highest contrast between light and dark and sharpest detail.