June News
Jul 25, 2017
Dear friends,
This African Lily painting is named "Simple Grace". I took the reference photo at the University of Florida Butterfly Exhibit in Gainesville, which I always enjoy going to, and fell in love with the graceful shape of the flowers. I've wanted to paint them for a long time.
I don't usually begin with the background, but a beautiful, dark background would show off the lights, so I went a little crazy with some intense colors! Next, I worked on the subtle colors and shadows, being careful to keep the delicate feel of the petals. The background had to go much darker because it was competing for attention, and the lilies were getting lost. A wash of ultramarine pushed the background back, and the flowers forward, leaving the beautiful colors to glow through.
Here are some pictures of the process:
I hope the simple grace of these white flowers brings a touch of beauty to your day.
Thank you for your interest in my work, and happy June!
Nancy