Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Marigolds and Zinnias



Marigolds and Zinnias

6x8in oil on canvas board   $125. SOLD

What gorgeous colors! Mother Nature sure got it right.

A friend gave me these zinnias from her garden and
another friend brought me an assortment of  flowers from hers
so I had quite a bouquet. I LOVE my buddies!
There is a stem with tiny clusters of white flowers which further
down the stem had turned into small green berries.
Not being a gardener I have no idea what they are but I know
I like them.

Artist Note.

The Zinnias are quite remarkable with a beautiful range of colors.
I have never painted them before so it took a few tries.
I found that painting the basic shape in a darker/middle value
and then placing a few lighter petals near the front of each one
gave it some form without painting every individual petal.
I pushed my background dark into the color to shape a few edges.
(of petals). Hope this makes sense.


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43 comments:

  1. OH MY!!! I think I found a favorite! This is such a beautiful piece, Julie..Outstanding colors and the pot is gorgeous!! Congratulations!!

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    1. Thanks Hilda - great to know we both love color.
      Talking about color - yours are rich and wonderful on your tiger painting.

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  2. Wow! Very beautiful and colorful...love the pot also! Awesome!

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    1. Love the WOW - thanks Maria. I enjoyed the same reaction seeing your very clever, four mugs.

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  3. Your description makes good sense. I love zinnias and I love the way you have painted them. Wow, a first time? And they are in a beautiful Julie pot. Gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks Lisa, With that big show coming up I appreciate you taking time to comment.

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  4. They have blossomed so beautifully, their radiance and the shine of your friendship is unmistakable!

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    1. Thank you, Padmaja. I wish we could have connected when I was in Bangalore. I would have enjoyed seeing your beautiful and colorful art in person..

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  5. I am not sure if it is the fact that you have painted some new flowers, but it feel very fresh, and lovely as usual. I love the hint of the small white flowers, not sure what they are called, but it gives a great size contrast to the larger flowers.

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    1. As always you have written an insightful comment, Roger. Yes, the scale of the small flower, Lantana, I have been told, makes the whole thing come together. They are a creamy white too so they also provided a link to the vase.

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  6. Its really cleverly beautiful. I clicked on it to enlarge, and was rewarded with a treat - even the vase - don't know much (anything) about painting, but each piece is placed with an exact precision, which amazes.
    Thank you

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    1. Hi John - I admire the interest from an artist who works with line and value. My own taste runs the gamut, but I have found not many artists can appreciate a taste different from their own. Especially true with non-representational painters.
      I had a member of a critique group I was in, upon seeing a series of plein air painting I had done of my mountains during different periods of weather conditions, say...and this is an exact quote..."if I see anymore silly paintings of mountains, I will puke!"
      I left the group.

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    2. OMG, that was a very rude person! I would leave sucha group, too!

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  7. Gorgeous vase and colorful flowers and your inimitable style makes this piece just stunning, Julie. Just so pretty it makes me catch my breath! (Did you ask if my mom was aging? Yes, she is now 71...which makes me aging too, alas.)

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    1. You are always so supportive, Crimson. I see on your blog some people call you Sherry. I always think of you as Crimson so do you mind?

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  8. I looked as closely as I could (nose to the computer screen almost) and I just love the different textures! I like seeing the canvas texture as some of the paint got scraped back and then the leaves stand out in relief. It's a great mixture of effects and of course the colors are lovely as always:)

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    1. thanks, Libby. it is my handy tool which makes it all possible.

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    2. Hi Lavon - yes, tool. It is a painting tool I make to use with my technique. See side bar and go back to early May and I think it is 3rd -4th or 5th. Anyway after I show how to make it I also follow up with a couple of days of showing how to use it.

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  9. Love this painting, the colors are spectacular. The small white flowers with green berries might be lantana.

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  10. Thanks Paula and thanks for the name - I Googled it from your description, saw the pic, and you are dead on. I am so pleased to know.
    Are you painting at all?

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    1. Taking classes and workshops, but not completing many paintings lately. Doing too much traveling to see family and fall gardening! ;)

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  11. The color of the zinnias is uncannily true to life, and the translucence of the vase too. You amaze me Julie.

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    1. The unusual and subtle colors in the zinnias are really beautiful. I have enjoyed how long they last too.
      Are you going to get back to painting. It was two months ago today when you posted about your plein air experience.
      Thanks for the lovely complement.

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  12. How beautiful Julie:) I almost can feel the flowers. The colors are so bright. I think an other master job!

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    1. You are so sweet - thank you, Renate. I think it is a double complement when a watercolor painter visits my blog.
      Your sunflowers sing right off the monitor.

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  13. This is so beautiful! I love the colors, how the flowers speak, and the demonstration of thick/thin paint. I have tried to paint zinnias before - ended up trying to paint each petal - ugh! Thanks for your tips - I am anxious to try again.

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  14. Gorgeous painting.i like the way you handled the vase, really beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Nora.
      Your latest painting is amazing on so many levels.

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  15. JULIE, YOU OUT DID YOURSELF TODAY. THIS IS STUNNING!

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    1. Thanks so much, Carol. Happy to know you like it.
      Love the color in your apple today.

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  16. Just beautiful! I appreciated your description of how you painted the flowers. I am in awe of your skill!

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    1. Glad the description was enjoyable and thank you for the special complement. Your own skill shows beautifully in the latest one of the Abandoned boat. Blue and orange - my fav combination.

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    1. Thanks, Myra. You always get a flower or two into your paintings, somewhere.

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  18. Hi Julie, Thanks for the visit,my online rounds are out of kilter. At any rate, this is yet another true gem! I love zinnias and you paired them with the perfect blues. Also, the contrast of textures is wonderful!

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    1. You are so nice - thanks, Mary. The colors in your floral piece are strong and wonderful and I loved your orchards pieces.

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  19. for as great as the flowers are....the vase is awesome! Wow....what a painting!

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    1. An awesome and a wow - I will get a big head!
      Seriously though, I do value your encouragement because
      painting doesn't come easy.

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  20. Beautiful mix of colors that keep their harmony. I love the texture; the petals are bursting to pop right off that canvas!

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    1. Nice of you to say and I appreciate it. I did enjoy seeing your nocturne painting.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie