Tulip Twists

7x9 watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb hot press paper done today; combination of refs taken mid-February in Ruidoso NM of red and white tulips. At first I didn't see the lone red stripe on the variegated bloom so that was a nice twist. Painted during our weekly paint in at my studio over pencil sketch using #1 rigger and a #6 round Princeton brush. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Variegated Valentine Tulips

12x16 watercolor on Magnani Italia 140 lb cold press block done this weekend from my tulips photos, a floral watercolor scene of spring around the corner. I used colors rarely painted with such as Daniel Smith's quinacridone coral and sap green, American Journey's Fire Engine Red by Cheap Joe, and Winsor Newton's Aureolin. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Four Rembrandt Tulips

14x10 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done last week as a commission. Each section is a 5x7 with space in between each tulip to fit inside a frame made to resemble a real window with panes. Rembrandt tulips are variegated with more than one color in each bulb. This work is SOLD. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Pink Joy Tulip

4.25x2.75 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done today, a totally imaginary tulip bulb that bloomed in my mind.  Two hues of pinks, Permanent Rose and Wild Fuchsia, were used as was New Gamboge, and a mixed green for the stem.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Windtorn Tulip

9.5x15 alcohol inks on paper done this afternoon.  Working in layers, I first applied alcohol 91% sprayed on paper, thenWillow followed by Sunbright Yellow.  Watermelon was next with more yellow, blowing air to make petal shapes.  For the stem I put down Willow then Lettuce on top of that.  Overall mixing done with canned air and a large drinking straw.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Iron Gate with Tulips

22x15 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders paper, an imaginary floral still life.  After doing so many landscapes and snow scenes it was time to venture back into a familiar subject.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2016.

Tulips - WIP woven watercolor

Continuing on day 2 work in progress of watercolor tulips, two painted at the same time on quarter sheets side by side.  Today I did not have much time, maybe 20 minutes, so had to think and work fast to get the greens going.  I used arylide yellow, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, and green gold.  Stems of the blooms were done first then the leaves.  Keep in mind I am doing "direct painting" meaning ONE application only, as dark or as light as needed.  This approach ensures freshness with no muddy colors resulting.  Now if too light I will add a wash to the desired value.

Note diagonal lines of the leaves and curves.  Even the stems are on a slant.  This is to indicate movement of the leaves and blooms and avoids stasticity of straight line elements.  Tomorrow the small tiny tulip just about to open will be put in, then the background which will be darker value to showcase the lightest lights in the flowers.  Both are similar but not exact as you won't be able to tell once they are cut into vertical and horizontal strips then woven into one piece.
Images COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Tulips - WIP woven watercolor

 



reference photo

It has been awhile since I did a work in progress (WIP ) and even longer since doing a watercolor that is 'woven'.  With this technique, you must do two paintings alike as seen in today's pencil sketch BELOW.  When done, one will be cut into vertical strips and the other horizontal strips, then woven into its own painting.

Two pencil drawings 15x11 on 140 lb cold press Canson watercolor paper, using ref photo to get shapes correct.

With both side by side on DRY paper I started with the uppermost top tulip, making it variegated, applying arylide yellow and transparent pyrrol orange with 1" flat sable brush.  Alternating colors I switched back and forth with each stroke trying to have them identical.

Second tulip with more reds and pinks variations was next, letting colors mingle.  Colors:  Alizarin crimson, permanent rose, Grumbacher red, arylide, quinacridones violet and magenta.  Pale green made with arylide and Prussian blue was painted.  Stay tuned for more.
Images COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Tuxedo Tulips

18x14 watercolor of three imaginary tulips painted awhile back that is SOLD. 
With this one, I had placed tall green leaves behind the blooms and they were not very prominent, so I made a mixed black (alizarin + thalo green) and darkened the background.  Still visible are tiny specks of other colors.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Rembrandt Tulips

15x11 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper painted today using NO PENCIL, brush only on spritzed paper.  A collection of variegated spring tulips known as Rembrandts caught my eye and since they're my favorite flower they were quickly done in a direct method.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Time for Tulips!

11x15 watercolor using brush only and working from black & white photo, a weekend challenge on WetCanvas! We had to complete our work within 2 hours.
COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Tulip Trio - anticipating Spring!

15x22 watercolor of imaginary parrot tulips blooming in the soft spring sunshine.  For this one, I splashed and poured paint in a random array of warm colors:  Permanent rose, gamboge, aureolin, transparent pyrrol orange, quinacridone coral, alizarin crimson, then added cools of manganese blue, Prussian and ultramarine, plus mixed greens.  No tube greens for me!

Late Bloomers tulips

11x7.5 watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb rough cold press paper; Daniel Smith paints.  Today's daily work allowed me to visualize several multicolored and variegated parrot tulips mingling together.  I direct painted with 1-2 applications of pigment on a water-spritzed surface, working from dark to light.  Negative painting exists in the background as well as leaves and stems.

Red and White Tulips

22x30 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper, DaVinci/Daniel Smith paints, working wet in wet.  Tulips, especially variegated, like these are my favorite flower.  A complementary color scheme of reds and mixed greens is challenging to use as well.  Reds:  Alizarin crimson, Grumbacher red, perylene maroon, quinacridones coral, magenta, violet, and permanent rose.  Other colors:  Arylide yellow, quinacridone gold, UB, Prussian blue.  The title is Candy Stripers and is SOLD.

Red Velvet tulips

22x30 watercolor of close view or macro red tulips; some had light yellow green variegated petals.  This is painted on 140 lb cold press paper wet in wet using 2" wide brush and lots of Daniel Smith reds.

Peppermint Parrot Tulips

15x22 watercolor painted wet in wet on 140 lb cold press paper; this peppermint red & white tulip and the red ones were in a hotel floral arrangement I photographed on a trip to Dallas.