For those wondering after my previous post. Mister Plod the Policeman has not yet been to investigate the suspiciously illuminated greenhouse. Maybe the neighbours have not grassed me up, or maybe the local coppers have better things to do (involving tea and Christmas cake at the station).
It is traditional to post about the highlights of the past year. Mine have all involved friends made via this blog. Culminating in my trip to Montreal in September to meet up with my blogging buddies Dominique, Dee Dee and Linda. The highlight of my year by far.
One quiet afternoon during this visit Dominique arranged some zucchini flowers on a plate for me to draw. The photos I took and the graphite drawing gave me a nice opportunity to develop a quick colour drawing during the holidays. It also allowed me to be nostalgic and to look forward to my next visit.
So here it is. Step-by-step.
The photo and sketch from Montreal.
Transferring the sketch to Bristol Board and using Prismacolor Black Grape and Verithin Violet to shade under where greens and yellows/oranges will be.
Then we start to add greens to the stems, veins and calyces. In this case Polychromos Permanent Green Olive and Polychromos Earth Green Yellowish.
Then slowly build up the oranges from dark to light, finishing with yellow. The various pencils used are shown in the subsequent picture.
White was used to add some reflected highlights to stems etc. And then it was finished๐. I finished it whilst listening to Leonard Cohen to mentally reinforce that link with Montreal.
I find it fascinating that you use purple first. How do you know to do this? Would it be different if the flower colour was different?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Ali,
I was given this tip by my mentor Susan Christopher Coulson. The basic principle is to add the shading first, using the complementary colour – i.e. the colour opposite on the colour wheel. So for lemon yellow flowers I use a light violet blue, for green leaves I use a reddish purple like pridmacolor black grape, for oranges I use a dark violet. For colours that are natually dark it is more tricky. For instance if shading a dark red it would be a waste of time to use just green in most cases – so I would use a very dark colour, perhaps indigo, then add some green to it. Then put reds on top.
Same principal applies to shadows too – if I did a still life of something on a white background and wanted to put its shadow on the white I would not use just grey – in nature the shadow of any coloured object will include a tint of it’s complementary colour. So the shadow of a red pepper would have a hint of green in the grey.
What I never do is use just greys to add shade/tone or shadows because it tends to flatten the top colour. Using the complementary colour instead adds vibrancy. Hope that helps?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing talent you have Darren and if you don’t mind me add a philosophical slant, I enjoy taking it to also represent the endless posibility we have in our lives. We can start our day or any day as a few black and white lines on a page and transform it into something beautiful – if we so wish!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love your philosophy Marie, and thank you so much๐โค
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always my pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning! Happy New Year!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy new year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy New Year!
LikeLike
Thank you๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Darren for bringing back so many wonderful memories! Your drawing is fantastic. I could listen to you talk about colours all day long. โค๏ธ Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy New Year my lovely friend. And thank you for creating those memories for me. I am glad you liked the drawing. It was important to me.
By the way – I just chased molly away from the ipad. What has she been up to? I must go and look…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Like? I love your drawing! Molly was adorable. Please, give her a huge hug for me. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I am happy๐.
I will give Molly a hug as requested! Hope I donโt catch anything….
๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so talented . Amazing. Happy New Year. Hope 2019 is a great one for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much and a Happy New Year to you and Munch!๐๐
LikeLike
I love seeing this progression. The bottom one is just gorgeous, seeing it all come together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I take the step by step photos as much out of laziness as anything. If I had time I would use a proper sketchbook with colour notes in case I need to re-do something in future. It is easier to just take photos!
LikeLike
Beautiful work…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
You said that you ate zucchini flowers, but it was all just a story till now. It really did happen! I am stunned to learn about using complementary colors before adding the color one would expect. Brilliant! Looking forward to the next visit! Hugs, my friend! ๐ค
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy to have provided evidence๐๐. And thank you my friend๐. Am currently working out visit date options!๐. Hugs ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Let me know and I’ll make sure we our plans coincide! ๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐ค
LikeLiked by 1 person
These drawings are just amazing Darren – you have such talent :O) x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa and welcome back! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love this post. I always learn so much from you. I love that Do arranged these as well. So much inspiration in this piece. Thank you for sharing the colors. I have made notes on this. Much love and hugs my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa, you are sweet๐. Canโt wait to see what you do with that Bristol board๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started on that fuzzy cutie for our next edition. I absolutely love the Bristol board, it handles colors so beautifully. Thank you my friend! ๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful drawings, as always! I’m thinking in order to get the police to come around you need to up your greenhouse game, but for the life of me I can’t think how…maybe more lights?! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Maybe now I have the lights I could hold a rave? ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐ Iโm thinking that just might do it! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
So nice to learn all this .
P.s
On an another note,I love fried zucchini flowers ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and they were ok raw too. Must try them fried๐
LikeLike
Another example of your beautiful and stunning artwork, Darren! These zucchini flowers look ready to be fried – which I love by the way. ๐ I’m always amazed what you can do with pencils, I think I’m much too impatient for them. ๐ Happy New Year, my friend! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Sarah๐. Pencil does take such a long time. I hope to experiment with other media again this year once I meet the deadline for exhibition submission later this month. Happy New Year to you too my friend๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking very much forward to see this! And all the best for meeting that deadline – an exhibition! How wonderful!! ๐ โค
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sarah. I am submitting work the the society of botanical artists exhibition in London this June. No guarantee it will be accepted but can hope!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds so exciting, Darren! I will keep my fingers crossed they will – how could they not? Your art is unbelievably exquisite and excellent, it would be just perfect for the exhibition. โค
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence Sarahโค๏ธ. You are so kind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iยดm only honest, Darren. ๐ Best of luck! โค
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so talented Darren! I wish I could draw like both you and Lisa ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I am lucky to be able to draw and I enjoy it. ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person