This is my least favorite part of beginning a new painting, starting from scratch. This photo above is one of my garden roses. I used it for inspiration on my rose jewelry box from the last post, and it will also be my reference photo for my watercolor rose that I'm just beginning.
After I decided what photo I wanted to use, I cropped it to focus on the area of the rose that I want to paint. This photo represents the exact layout I would like my painting to have. I then sketched the design on an 11 x 14 masonite board that I prepped with gesso.
This photo shows only the very beginning stages of work. I basically sat down last night and decided to lay some color on this board to just get it going. This is the hardest part for me, as I tend to procrastinate and put off starting to paint. Nothing is obviously finished or perfected, it's just the beginning of the project. I just based in some areas of the rose, decided on a background and also, thought I would add a leaf. What I will do in my next step, where I think I would like to pick up, is to finish the background properly, reshape the leaf and then start on the inside of the rose and work my way out. I'm also changing the color as well...the reference photo is of a creme colored rose and I'm making mine pink so, I'll be using some different colors. I'll try to work on this little by little and chip away at it inbetween holiday orders, which are already driving me a bit crazy. So, here we are at the start again, I hope you'll enjoy following along with the process.
This is my least favorite part of beginning a new painting, starting from scratch. This photo above is one of my garden roses. I used it for inspiration on my rose jewelry box from the last post, and it will also be my reference photo for my watercolor rose that I'm just beginning.
After I decided what photo I wanted to use, I cropped it to focus on the area of the rose that I want to paint. This photo represents the exact layout I would like my painting to have. I then sketched the design on an 11 x 14 masonite board that I prepped with gesso. 
This photo shows only the very beginning stages of work. I basically sat down last night and decided to lay some color on this board to just get it going. This is the hardest part for me, as I tend to procrastinate and put off starting to paint. Nothing is obviously finished or perfected, it's just the beginning of the project. I just based in some areas of the rose, decided on a background and also, thought I would add a leaf. What I will do in my next step, where I think I would like to pick up, is to finish the background properly, reshape the leaf and then start on the inside of the rose and work my way out. I'm also changing the color as well...the reference photo is of a creme colored rose and I'm making mine pink so, I'll be using some different colors. I'll try to work on this little by little and chip away at it inbetween holiday orders, which are already driving me a bit crazy. So, here we are at the start again, I hope you'll enjoy following along with the process.
29 comments:
Wow, your paintings are gorgeous!! Don't you just love roses? I think they're the most perfect flower (not my most favorite but in the top 2.) They're just like humans with so many beautiful layers all starting from a center point (God)
Love,
Julie
Hi Ruth, I'm much like you starting a painting, takes me a while to commit to it but once started I am fine. In fact I cant stay away from it. I look forward to seeing your finished rose painting!
WOW what a gorgeous rose! You can grow 'em, Ruth! Really looking forward to seeing the final work. Hope you're having a nice weekend.xo
Thanks Julie and Linda, I'll be curious to see how this one progresses myself. : )
Alicia, Argh, I get quite annoyed with myself when I get this full of procrastination when starting a painting. That is why I just had to give myself a kick last night and just lay some color onto this painting.
Hi Ruth!
Your rose egg and painting are wonderful! I love to see your paintings. Thank you for sharing the process.
Melissa
Ruth...Your roses are lovely!
I can't wait to see your finished painting...I know it will be fabulous!
Priscilla
Hi Ruth, just beautiful :) looking forward to the end result, we are sure it will be just gorgeous! Have a lovely Sunday! Jenn and Jacqui
Thanks Melissa, Priscilla & Jenn & Jacqui for stopping by to say hello.
Hi Ruth,
That is a beautiful rose ... I am looking forward to seeing the finished painting!
Happy Sunday,
kate ox
Ruth I so appreciate your creative talent! Your interpretations of the rose are exquisite!
BTW..I always answer your Q. in my comments so I hope you do return to read answers. It is important to me
to share what I know! hugs NG
Ruth, I love hearing your thought process on your artwork....I am just the opposite! I love starting a new piece and figuring out the layout, design and the materials I am using...For me it is the end of the project...the fill in pieces that take forever, that I don't look forward too. Like right now, on that darn mosaic tea cart....I am on the last little bit of background on the top tier and I am soooo ready to move onto my next piece of art!
Penny
Thanks Kate & NG.
Penny, that is funny, that you love the beginning of new projects while I don't. After I've been working on a painting for awhile, I am more then happy to finally move on to the next thing. I don't know though, starting to paint seems so difficult, almost like I'm afraid to do it. I find myself just having to force myself to dive in just so I can get it started. Hang in there with your tea cart, I know it will look beautiful.
Those are beautiful photos of your rose Ruth. I have to look at something when I paint too...it's hard for me to just 'pull it out of my head'! The "beginnings" look lovely, can't wait to see the continued process.
Hi Suzanne, yes, I like to work from my own photographs. They are either from my own garden or photos I take when I'm out and about, visiting other peoples gardens.
I will very often combine different elements from my photos to make a painting, rather then just working from one photograph alone.
Hi Ruth,
Like the way you show how you are going to do your painting from start to finish, shows how much work goes into it.
Cheers Mark
Can't wait to see the finished product Ruth...the rose is beautiful
HUGS
JO
Thanks Jo...it's a good start anyway but we'll see where it goes from here.
Hi Mark, thanks for your visit. That is really exactly why I show paintings in progress. Not only is it a great tool for me to chart my own work by but it also gives visitors a peek at what goes into a painting. Sometimes I think fine art is under appreciated. Also, I think people have many misconceptions about art...like it is always easy. So, showing atleast some of the steps, I hope, really shows people that there is a lot more to it.
Bellisima! Beautiful!
Sandra Evertson
Roses are so beautiful! It is exciting to see your work in progress. You must have a lot of patience to see it through to the end, it seems like painstaking detail must be necessary to recreate a rose! You have a real talent, can't wait to see the finished result!
Oh, it's just beautiful. I can't wait to see the completed project. You are such an inspiration!
That rose is just beautiful, Ruth! It's so nice to see your project progressing through its stages. Thanks for the tip about the mini Etsy ... I haven't added it yet but I will just as soon as I've finished uploading things. Could you let me know the name of your Etsy shop? I'd like to ♥ you! ~ hugs, Lynda xo
Hi Ruth
Thanks for the comment on my last bog, me too my blog often inspires me to finish or start a project...any bit of inspiration helps doesn't it! I'm loving watching the process of your artwork, your style is very special Ruth. Look forward to seeing the end result of this beauty.
I am soooooooooo happy that you also use inspiration from photographs for your paintings! I DO TOO!!! (My college art professor TRIED to drill it into us that using photos was a no-no, so I always feel guilty when I use photos! He said it was cheating as a photo is no longer 3dimensional.) If he's reading this... "I've been cheating for years!" lol
That's a gorgeous photo of a beautiful rose. It looks so perfect! It's so interesting to see how you progress from photo to finished painting.
Manuela
Sandra, it is very nice to meet you, your blog is beautiful and your dolls...WOW!!
Thanks Melissa, I wish I had more time just to work on watercolors, I feel these days like my time is spliced between too many different things.
Thank you Inspired Tokens and Gail.
Hi Lynda, I hearted your ETSY shop this morning...thanks for hearting me back. The best of luck with your new shop.
Thanks Manuela for your visit. It was fun cropping the rose just how I wanted it to be...ah, modern advances let us do so much these days.
Louise, what a shame that your teacher wasn't into the idea of using photos. We have such technology these days, all kinds of paint, all kinds of surfaces. I think it is a bit "narrow" of him in the thinking department. My teacher , who painted for 50 years, used photos all the time. She had other issues about other things painting wise, but photos, she never minded. I just think it is silly to have so much available today and not take advantage of it. Good for you for using your photos anyway.
Hello Ruth,
It is so much fun seeing the progression of your painting from start to finish, it of course is starting out beautiful ...it's fun to see the steps, it show's just how much work , and talent go into one painting!!
Thank's for sharing!
Look forward to seeing more, & the completed painting of the beautiful Rose!
Hug's,
Cat
Thanks Catherine...I fell fine art is really under appreciated these days and many people don't realize all that goes into a painting. One of the things I want to show in my blog is the "process" of each painting because I think, it helps people realize more, just what goes into it all. Perhaps even makes them appreciate the fact that you cannot buy it at Walmart. :0
I don't have to tell you how lovely the photo's and the painting are-- my favorite subjects! Very Nice!
Thanks Stephanie.
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