Sunday, October 14, 2007

Red Dahlia Watercolor

I'm finished with my red Dahlia watercolor and above is the final photo. I had a few more tweaks and changes to make this past week, which I finished the other day. Then I spent the last two days just looking at it on and off deciding if things needed to be brightened or darkened in certain areas. It measures a large 18 x 24 and because it has been painted on masonite board, will need no frame, it can hang directly onto the wall.

Remember where I started with it?? I know we saw these photos little by little over the last months but I thought it would be fun to assemble them together now, to show the first stages to the finished piece. Above I had just sketched on the design and then did half of the background. You couldn't really even see what I had drawn out at this point.

Now the background is done and you can see that I've started to base in some of the petals. Playing around a little with the color, to see what I would like to do.

I realized that I needed to change the color to get it more like the original photograph. I mixed a nice red/orange for the petals which I really liked and stuck with through the whole painting. I've also in this photo above, started to work on the center area. That was a bit tricky color wise but I finally ended up with something that made me happy.

Here I am very close, although...not quite. I'm really seeing the painting coming together and it feels as though it is almost finished. Yet I still had to do a few more of the petals and then the center also. Then of course, come the tweaks that I spend a couple of days working on. Little things here and there that I thought could make it better. Always putting it away for awhile and then looking at it an hour or two later with a fresh eye.

Finally, just yesterday, the finished painting. You might remember from my earlier posts that this painting was taken from a photo of a dahlia in my garden this year. In fact, my husband used that photo in my new banner above. I'm very happy with the outcome. I've already purchased more masonite board to start my next painting on. We'll see what it will be, I haven't quite decided yet.

36 comments:

Jean said...

Very nice job! I like that you took us thru the process with you. Will you hang is in your home?

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Jean. For now yes, it will hang on my studio wall. I will also have it for sale on my new website as well. There are few paintings that I wont sell. Some I fall very much in love with and have to keep but most I do part with if people want to purchase them. I will also be making products from it for my new site as well. Maybe jewelry boxes, mouse pads, tiles, you name it.

I just finished getting some products made of one of my favorite paintings. I'll be posting some pics of the things I've had made soon. It's kind of a fun process.

Anonymous said...

Ruth, That is gorgeous! Wish I could paint. Oh I would love to be able to paint roses...not tole roses ..but just as they look in nature. We also call Petunia Ms.Morning Glory and Mouse. She's squeaky. LOL Have a great day! Lynn

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you very much Lynn. You should give it a try someday you know...you might surprise yourself.

Flea Market Queen said...

Oh Ruth...
Your painting is absolutely beautiful!
Priscilla

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Ruth, Your painting is BEAUTIFUL! I loved the step by step process. I never realized how many different steps it takes! I am in awe of your talent!
Penny

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Priscilla.

Hi Penny...thanks , glad you liked the step by step. Even though I've been showing them for months, thought it was effective to show everything together, like a whole puzzle coming together at once. There are actually so many more steps involved but just too many to show. Glad you both liked the process.

Anonymous said...

Ruth,

That is beautiful...it so looks like the photo...very realistic... I did one from a photo I took but it was not quite as lovely a dahlia as yours... your step by step process was nice even for those of us that do paint ...its interesting to see how another artist approaches their work...

LOVELY

JO

Anonymous said...

Hi Ruth, the step by step process was really interesting! Your painting turned out just beautiful!

Manuela

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Jo...it was fun but now I'm ready to move onto the next one. I just have to figure out what that will be now. : )

Thank you Manuela, glad you liked the step by step process.

Archie and Melissa said...

Good Morning Ruth!

What a gorgeous painting. I love watching it spring to life. Thank you for documenting it.

:) Melissa

Anonymous said...

It turned out beautifully, Ruth! I loved seeing the step-by-step progress ... very interesting. Can't wait to see what you'll paint next!! ~ Lynda ♥

kari and kijsa said...

Great job. We love to see the artistic process, so thank you for sharing!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks Lynda, Kari & Kijsa, since everyone liked the step by step so much, I'll be doing that with my next painting as well.

Jenny Froh said...

It's just perfect Ruth! Perfect!
I love it!

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks Jen. I know you've been following the whole thing step by step. I'm glad you enjoyed the final outcome.

Anonymous said...

Ruth,

Wow, incredible! It is wonderful to see the whole process!

I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your visits and comments on my blog! I am so happy to have you on my list of bloggers receiving the You Make Me Smile award, because you really have done that many times over!

Your blog is amazing, you have such a gift!

Thanks so much for sharing your blog, and for your kind words!

Melissa

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks Melissa...glad so many people have enjoyed viewing the process. I'll be doing it again with all my watercolors from now on.

I really love visiting your blog, it is one of my favorites.

Marilyn said...

Beautiful work, Ruth!

Betty Jo said...

Ruth your red dahlia is exquisite! I'm looking forward to see what gorgeous creation you come up with next!! xoxo

Linda O'Neill said...

Really lovely, Ruth. I enjoy seeing your process too. Can't wait to see the next one! xo

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks you Marilyn, Betty Jo and Linda, I appreciate your comments.

Gail McCormack said...

How wonderful to read your blog Ruth, enjoyed the step by step process, although I paint myself it's always interesting to see the way other artists work. Love your work!
Thanks for visiting me too

Suzanne said...

Ruth~

Lovely work! Thanks for showing the process...it's always interesting!

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Gail & Suzanne.

kate said...

I liked seeing your process, arriving at a lovely painting of a Dahlia! The colour is pretty. I also like your blog header. It's neat to see a photograph of the flower that you were painting.

Tracy Hall said...

A lovely painting, Ruth! Very interesting to see the steps you use too. I've never tried watercolours on masonite ( a kind of hardboard is it?).Would be interesting to know how you prepare it!

Ruth Welter said...

Hi kate, glad you liked the banner as well, my husband just created it for me on the weekend. I ended up liking the photo I used for the Dahlia so much, that I wanted it in my header as well.

Hi Tracy, Yes, masonite is a hardboard, I liked it especially because it will need no mat or frame to be hung on the wall. I used a standard gesso to prepare the surface. Masonite board is a real dream to paint on, I bet you would enjoy it. Afterward, it must be sprayed for protection because the paint is not absorbed into the surface like it is with paper. Lots of fun to work with though.

Ki said...

Aha! the process for creating a painting is revealed. I've tried watercolor painting before but gave up when I found out that much planning was involved. I'm more of immediate results kind of person and sort of messy so I needed a medium that I could correct easily by painting over sections if I made a mistake. You've captured the vibrancy of a dahlia.

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Ki...I do like to take my time with my watercolors. I never think anything will be gained by rushing. Glad you enjoyed the process.

Catherine said...

Your painting is Beautiful!! I Loved seeing the progression of it from beginning to end!! I love the color's!! You are truely talented!!
Look forward to seeing your next one!!
Cat

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks Catherine, I've gotten such a nice response from people liking the "process" and just what is involved, that I will surely do the step by step again.

Greenie Gardens said...

It's such a nice sense of accomlishment to finish something. Then, you look back and wonder where all that inspiration came from. Great job!

Ruth Welter said...

Thanks Stephanie. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a painting. It is really a high like no other for me. I like to bask in it for awhile before I start another.

My Pink Boutique said...

Absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see what's next!

:)
Kimberly

Ruth Welter said...

Thank you Kimberly.