Painting Process | Minnetonka Flowers

Minnetonka Flowers

On a bright, sunny Minnesotan day – I set up my easel in the Hessel yard to paint some flowers. Not my typical subject matter, but I needed to sharpen the dagger for Tuesday’s main event – the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center, downtown Minneapolis.

Minnetonka Flowers

Choosing the subject matter.

Minnetonka Flowers

Setting up the easel, part in the garden – I chose a cluster of flowers and used my mental Photoshop powers to select a handful.

Minnetonka Flowers

The first flower, waiting for someone to chill with.

Minnetonka Flowers

Working through the flowers, building the initial structure.

Minnetonka Flowers

Trying to accurately capture the fractures, twists and turns in each petal.

Minnetonka Flowers

The line throughout was a rough capture of the background, as seen through this dense foliage.

Minnetonka Flowers

Starting out with deep reds, alizarin crimson (mixed.)

Minnetonka Flowers

Setting a dark under painting.

Minnetonka Flowers

Deep greens and deep reds.

Minnetonka Flowers

My thoughts at this stage was to paint the background bright purple.

Minnetonka Flowers

Instead, an understated blue made a cameo appearance.

Minnetonka Flowers

Balanced, the drawing stands out, time to fill in the leaves, stems and flowers.

Minnetonka Flowers

Lush greens.

Minnetonka Flowers

Dirty burnt sienna for the flowers deeper tones, to help create depth.

Minnetonka Flowers

Flowers filled in, interesting collective palette at this point.

Minnetonka Flowers

Full under painting.

Minnetonka Flowers

Deeper tones in the flower bed.

Minnetonka Flowers

Look at that unkempt artist out in the garden, should we call the police?

Minnetonka Flowers

Paint paint paint.

Minnetonka Flowers

Hello! A light purple, not the exact tone I had in mind at the inset, but, feels good.

Minnetonka Flowers

Painting the light on the flowers.

Minnetonka Flowers

Bright and balanced.

Minnetonka Flowers

Things got bright.

Final

The final picture, 20″X20″.

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