Monday, April 23, 2018

Wisteria Mystique

"Wisteria Mystique" • Original mixed watermedia on 100% cotton paper • 25" x 38.5"
This painting is on a big sheet of watercolor paper that's a little heavier than 140#. I began with watercolor and acrylic inks creating an impressionistic wash onto which I could make flower shapes. I worked on the green part on top separately while the purples were still wet. After everything was dry I tried to figure out where the flowers and leaves should be and added them by painting with watercolor, acrylic and gouache depending on if I wanted opaque paint or not. I finished with the curving vines and brushwork accents.

If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Chickadee and Green

This is my latest chickadee painting. I really wanted to use a variety of greens contrasted with the browns in the bird. The little peach accents  add a lot of zing.  I always think it's interesting to imagine what it would feel like to perch in a tree and look through the canopy of leaves.
"Chickadee and Green" • Original acrylic on 7/8" deep cradled wood, sides are painted dark brown
If interested in purchasing this piece click HERE.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Painting Hellebore

This is definitely hellebore season and these flowers are SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I really love how the flowers hang from the curved stems as well as the contrast between the pointy leaves and the rounded flowers. These are 3 of my recent hellebore paintings.
"Magic & Hellebore" • Original watercolor on 140# cold press paper • 11" x 7.5"
This piece started as a wash that I looked at for weeks before deciding that it would be a perfect hellebore piece. It was a challenge to find the flowers in the wash but very rewarding.
"Hellebore Magic" • Original watercolor on handmade rough press paper • 8.25" x 8.5"
This piece started with just 2 colors, bloodstone genuine and duochrome bronze. The wash was pretty light, so as I added the flower shapes I darkened around them. I like the color variation. This paper is rough press, so the texture shows in the painting. All edged have a deckle.
"Hellebore Minuet" • Original watercolor on handmade rough press paper • 9.25" x 12"
I really like the simple shapes in this piece.
If interested in purchasing any of these pieces send an email to: info@melissagannon.com