1. Bright sun falling on these roses creates high contrast between sharply defined shadows and nearly white highlights. A deep yellow underglaze will glow through all the subsequent layers of orange and red to give the flowers a rich, fiery feel.
The blue lines and dots are masking fluid used to preserve the very small areas of white along the edges of petals that are difficult to paint around.
Although the light pencil lines do not show in this photo, each painting begins with an accurate drawing as the basis for my realistic style.
Mary's Rose 'Livin' Easy' - orange rose watercolor demonstration
3. Glazes of deep orange build more contrast between the shadows and highlights of the petals.
4. Rosy pink layered over top of the shadow areas creates a cool red which pushes the warmer orange and gold into the foreground.
2. A bit of green begins to define the leaves, and the first layers of orange give instant depth and definition to the petals. Areas in the lower left which will appear deeply shadowed have very little yellow underglaze. They appear to be cooler and recede into the background.
5. The sapphire blue sky and deep green foliage settle the roses into a cool backdrop; the perfect foil for such warm, bold colors.
6. A few key leaves are defined and the bleached white edges of the petals are revealed. The resulting sharp cast shadows and bright highlights give the impression of hot summer sun in July.
My late mother-in-law, Mary, lived life to the fullest, and her spirit and love of people endeared her to a multitude of friends and family. The model for this painting, the rose 'Livin' Easy', was a gift from Mary to me and my husband Larry and is now one of our most prized garden treasures.
Created in her honor, Mary's Rose was commissioned by the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers as the showcase piece of art for their 2009 Tri-Cities May Festival.
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© 2008 - 2012 by Lisa Hill
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