Blue Garden with Daylily
STAGE 1 USING A PREVIOUS DRAWING AS INSPIRATION
I have chosen a blind contour drawing of daylilies and hostas for my subject matter. This drawing was created last summer and is part of a collection in my sketchbooks.
I often combine more than one drawing for a completed work. STAGE 2 I CREATE AN UNDERPAINTING ON PAPER
I use a wide brush to create a loose and fluid underpainting on Rives BFK 250 gsm paper. I use fluid acrylics in Prussian blue and raw umber, allowing the paint to drip in areas. I dry with a hair dryer.
STAGE 3 DRY THE PAINTING
I use a hair dryer in all stages to flatten and dry the paper in order to continue working. The paper does buckle a little when wet. Drying with the hair dryer helps keep the paper flat.
STAGE 4 DRAWING ON THE UNDERPAINTING
I use my reference drawing and re-create it on the underpainting. I use compressed charcoal and keep the drawing loose and expressive. I may add other elements from another drawing to create a stronger composition.
STAGE 5 CLEAR GESSO
I use a wide bristle brush to apply clear gesso over my drawing. It will smear the charcoal somewhat, but this helps in obtaining values in the underpainting.
STAGE 6 APPLY SOFT PASTELS
I begin to apply my chosen color scheme of soft pastels to the surface of the prepared paper. I start with laying in broad strokes of color with the side of the pastel. I move throughout the painting and work the entire surface.
STAGE 7 FINISHING TOUCHES
Blue Garden with Daylily, pastel on Rives BFK, 22 x 22" (56 x 56 cm)
I finish the painting by continuing to enhance different areas with mark making, color choices and layering of pastels. I blur some edges and sharpen others. I allow areas of my underpainting and original drawing to show through.