Following a Hunch

LilyCollagePhoto

I posted this close-up pic on Instagram and had a hunch that I would paint it and possibly add some elements of collage. I wasn’t sure though. So I started out slowly drawing the contours in pencil. So many times, I am unclear as to how I will proceed with a drawing/painting, but just beginning, making a start, almost always reveals what I want to do next.

LilyCollage1

*Note: I do not trace my photographs. I know there are artists who do this and that’s their decision. But I think tracing cuts out half the fun! I love to prop the photo on my iPad up in front of me and draw in my sketchbook looking back and forth for shape sizes and line intersections.

LilyCollage2

I decided I wanted to keep the line work evident, but to switch up the line quality. So I chose a Sharpie Fine Pen, a grease pencil, and a bic pen to give three different textures to the lines. For some reason (a hunch) I wanted to leave the lilies in pencil thinking I might collage them or something else.

LilyCollage3

 

I began to lay in color, bright, oozly and wazzly color…

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At this point the idea of adding in collage elements was pretty strong in my mind, but I wanted painted color everywhere, even under whatever I might collage.

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So I scoured magazines for oranges, and pilfered my paper stash for other decorative papers…

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The collage part was so much fun! But it does take a bit of time choosing just the right papers, where they might go, cutting them into just the right shapes, deciding how much or how little to collage.

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But in then end it was so worth it! This is my favorite of all the recent florals!

LilyCollageFinal

I love the jewel tones of watercolor juxtaposed with the bright textured papers. It’s difficult to see in a photograph, but there are shiny bits of paper that just add sparkle to the overall image. I’m definitely doing this again! And yes, I’ve done this kind of watercolor/collage before, but hadn’t in a while so it felt like discovery. You should try it too!!

**This one is in my Etsy Shop, just waiting to be “picked”.;)

 

0 thoughts on “Following a Hunch

  1. freebirdsings/Timaree says:

    I recognize some of those papers! I have cut them up too but mostly for background collage versus an object. I used that orange with blue (or some paper very, very similar) for the spine of a simple booklet journal to fancy it up! Your flower picture is lovely! The grease pencil started out looking pretty heavy but with the bright colors it actually worked great – it didn’t get lost among the colors. Your creativity is flowing!

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