Thursday, April 4, 2013

Another Day, Another Flower Painting


For the last few weeks, I've been immersed in painting imaginary flowers in Carla Sonheim's online Flower Crazy Class. This is one of my favorite paintings. It started as a purely abstract piece on a square piece of birch board.  In the class we learned how to use gesso to create wonderful texture and then paint with watercolor. The flowers gradually emerged as I added layers of watercolor, sanded, rubbed and added more paint. I love watercolor, but had never used it over gesso, nor on wood. It's amazing to me how beautiful and rich the results are. 






In this painting, perhaps my very favorite of the month, I  started with a collage layer before adding gesso and watercolor.



This one is also on an 8" x 8" wood panel. I am definitely going to continue use this painting method because it's so much fun to do, and I love the results!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. I always appreciate your comments.

39 comments:

  1. Love these, I too have recently discovered using watercolour over gesso, but havent used to create texture, so thank you for the inspiration. The first one is my favourite.

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  2. these paintings are wonderful! i often use watercolor and colored pencil over gesso but not on wood. i should try it!
    happy Easter, happy PPF and thanks for sharing your lovely work!
    hugs,
    peggy aplSEEDS

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  3. Your painting are amazingly beautiful.
    You have a very fresh eye :)
    Have a wonderful weekend and keep painting . . . you make this world a prettier place.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  4. Oh wow Debbie!
    I love those wonderful paintings!

    xxx Susi
    from
    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY
    would be so proud to have you with us this month with the new theme!

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  5. I really like both your pieces. I tried the technique myself this week and so enjoy the fact that everyone's flowers end up so different. The first one is so light and airy, fabulous.

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  6. Loving your beautiful flower paintings especially the first one.
    Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  7. Happy PPF. Love both pieces, but I really resonate with the second. I love the way you get texture just by painting on wood. xox

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  8. I love the results you got with this method. The colors are beautiful on both. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. I use watercolor but have never used it like this. Wow, your paintings are amazingly beautiful. I would love to learn how to do this...if you ever give a tutorial, let me know.

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  10. Wow! I really love the first painting! I never knew you could use watercolor over gesso or on wood. Great technique, absolutely stunning!

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  11. Thank you for sharing both painting. The first one is my favorite :) It is a new technique for me too. Love to see more!
    Happy PPF
    Erika

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  12. These are gorgeous. The first one especially is my favourite - it is such a dreamy scene and those flowers are stunning!

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  13. I love the texture and the combination of colors so special. Saludos

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  14. I like both your pieces. Great texture and color. I also love the idea of watercolor and gesso. Thanks. Happy PPF!

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  15. Just beautiful, the first one is my absolute fave! Valerie

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  16. Brilliant work. I can see you really enjoyed doing these.

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  17. I love this piece and will be trying out that method--

    Just gorgeous!

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  18. Both paintings are amazing.... really.

    I really love the different styles of flowers in the second piece and your 'gears' inspiration in the previous post too.

    Thank you for your lovely comment btw

    Happy PPF!

    Karen x

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  19. I love love love both, just incredible depth, richness and texture and divine colors. Love your style! <3

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  20. Your flower paintings are beautiful! very Springy...beautiful texture and lovely color combinations. happy PPF!

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  21. I'm going to have to start using gesso, wonderful richness! Nice work!

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  22. I really can't pick a favorite here - both are really beautiful. I do love the variety of textures and colors you are getting in both of these. Beautiful work!

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  23. These are wonderful but my fav is the first one. HPPF!

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  24. Gorgeous and delicate, very delicate almost eternal, very well matched colours and great composition. Fantastic. Thank you for sharing.

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  25. I can't even decide which one I love more because they are both so beautiful in their own right....love the gentle movement and color in the pink one and the whimsy and lines of the second!! Thanks for sharing a bit of the process!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  26. What beauty emerges from your layers of painting and adding other elements in this interesting process. The results are stunning!

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  27. those are wonderful. I love the rich colors and texture. HPPF!!

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  28. Your paintings are fabulous. Love the vibrant color and gentle flow of the art. In the first one I also see a picture of jellyfish gently floating to the surface of the water. Wonderful job. HPPF

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  29. gorgeous projects!!! You have me very tempted to take this class- I love the thought of using the techniques you describe. Fantastic!

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  30. like the textures in this painting

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  31. I really like the whole effect, a bit ethereal. Happy PPF.

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  32. debbie this is such an interesting approach to watercolor painting. Thank you for sharing. I adore your paintings. How the textures just emerge and the colors are vivid. Great works!

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  33. I do like your flowers. it's always wonderful when the inspiration fly's and you get loads done :) Dxx

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  34. You have a wonderful style. The flowers look wonderful and full of energy. :)

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  35. These are great. So bright and full of life.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  36. What an interesting technique. Love what came out of it.

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  37. I love your first flower painting soooo much! There's so much life in it! I might have to get my hands on some gesso!!

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  38. So pretty, they look wonderful. Kim

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  39. WOW these pieces really caught my eyes! I love those crazy flower, the first one is my favorite and the second one is so special because of its wonderful shapes and layers! Loooove them both! ♥ Conny
    http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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