Eats, sleeps and leaves



A collection of leaves from the garden with resident snail - who woke up and took off as I was painting him! Saunders Waterford HP paper.



Chinese Jasmine leaves on Moleskine watercolour paper.


It's still too hot to go out so I've been painting leaves from the garden. It's even too hot to be in my room so I've brought my paints downstairs to the kitchen which overlooks a little patio area. I don't have any real method to write about, but I thought a photo might show how I planned the top page. I played around with leaves on the page to work out a composition - I changed my mind after painting the first leaf and one of my 'references' shrivelled up overnight! I have another pad alongside to try out colours and mixes. Also here I worked out which colours to put down first and which to use as a wash on top. I then tried combinations of colours for the shadows - oranges, purples and blues - and settled on a very dilute Neutral Tint with some Cobalt Blue. Most of the time I work wet in wet to get some control with the shading and occasionally, for instance when I need hard edges, I paint those drectly and then soften the inner edge with a clean damp brush so that the edge is crisp but fades on the other side. I should really make more notes because even between spreads, I forgot the method I used for the same leaf I painted the day before! I daren't take a break at this stage and do some colour pencils drawings just in case I forget everything!

Comments

Alison Staite said…
Hi Felicity - Lovely detail and colours. You are on a roll, so no don't stop now!!
Paula Pertile said…
These are exquisite! When I first saw them I thought they were just your reference - then I saw your signature.
I love neutral tint too -but why its called neutral I don't know. :~)
Carolina said…
Hi Felicity,
I think I understand what you mean about forgetting your new process (that happens to me often :)
I loved your birds spread, but this one about leaves is something that touches me more (I love botany)
See you around,
Carolina
Anonymous said…
You will not forget, just get back on the bike, it will come naturally.
Your work is amazing.
David, NYC
Teresa said…
Felicity! These are amazing! You do such beautiful, intricate work. Interesting to read your methods... do keep the commentary up!
Felicity Grace said…
Thanks Paula! Good question - it doesn't seem very neutral being blue tinged and very strong but I guess it acts as a good base for whatever colour you add to it.

Thanks Carolina! Good to read that - I did enjoy the leaves a lot more as they were from life and, of course, from my garden and things I notice every day.

Thanks very much David, and I hope you're right! Thanks for visiting!

Thanks Teresa, that's so encouraging, I'll do my best!
Double "D" said…
Hi Fiz,
Gorgeous botanicals.
Thanks for showing the set up for
your paintings. Wonderful color knowledge
and technical skills.
Manel said…
The realism is incredible, Felicity. I like your art a lot.
Greetings.
SKIZO said…
Fascinating work.
It has been delightful
to visit your gallery.
Good Creations
Wilfred said…
It's been a while, Felicity and I have to say "wow". Great leaves. I had to double take on a few of them.
Felicity Grace said…
Thanks Wil, and thanks everyone!

Sorry it took a while for your comment to appear Wil. I've had to moderate the comments because I'm getting so much spam here. Didn't realise Blogger has a new tab where the comments go!
Cathy Gatland said…
I can't believe it's so long since I've visited here Felicity - your leaves and birds are, as Paula says, exquisite - such perfect detail and colour, they look ready to go into a botanical art book to me!
Felicity Grace said…
Thanks very much Cathy, that made my day! :)
Making A Mark said…
How did I miss this?!!!

These are GORGEOUS Felicity - I think you may have found a niche to keep you happy!
Felicity Grace said…
Thanks very much Katherine! Yes, I like doing leaves - maybe too much as I could go on and on and bore the pants off everyone! With autumn coming I think it's going to be hard to resist, I may indulge in a few more! :)

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