Inspiration I love to garden. It is like painting but you get to play in the dirt. I never know what is going to come up from year to year (I am a very random gardener!) just like I never know where my paintings will lead me.
I sketched this scene in late summer when the hydrangeas were the stars of my garden. I loved how they framed the fountain and climbed up through the tree limbs. The late afternoon sun lit up the maple tree while the rest of the garden was in cool shadow - sort of a spotlight on mystery.
I sketched this scene in late summer when the hydrangeas were the stars of my garden. I loved how they framed the fountain and climbed up through the tree limbs. The late afternoon sun lit up the maple tree while the rest of the garden was in cool shadow - sort of a spotlight on mystery.
"Summer Bloom" underpainting I did a quick sketch to create a composition I liked, laid in some darker values with a pastel pencil and fixed the drawing so that adding the watercolor underpainting would not make the drawing run down the page. Then I went a little crazy with the watercolor, letting the colors drip and run together to see what would happen (just like the way I garden!).
Allowing the underpainting to lead me to the pastel colors needed, I started filling in general areas, working on all parts of the painting. With my butterfly personality (oh no, another garden metaphor!) moving around the painting keeps me from getting bored or too focused in one spot.
The best part is filling in the detail and watching the painting emerge. The hardest part is knowing when to stop!
The best part is filling in the detail and watching the painting emerge. The hardest part is knowing when to stop!
"Summer Blooms" Pastel 10" x 8" www.KayCrawfordStudio.com
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