It's been a very long time since my last blog, and for that, I apologize.  After painting for two art shows and with summer vacation approaching, we took a long and eventful trip down the Alaska Highway to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and back with our motorhome. 

Now, with winter practically on our doorstep, it's time to get back down to business.  Plus, I have missed the interaction between the blog and the readers. 

The latest painting is one I have labored over for the last 2 months.  (Where does the time go?  I wish I knew!)  I belong to two art groups, each meeting twice a month, so this painting was worked on during these two - three hour sessions.  Sometimes, there is so much conversation going on, it is difficult to get some painting in though.  I find these groups therapeutic and inspiring.

The first day, the background was laid in on a very wet background and brushes loaded down with blues, yellow, greens and turquoise.  The paint was moved around some while the colors intermingled and soaked into the paper.  At that critical moment when the paint was starting to lose it's gloss, I sprinkled in sugar.  YES, that was sugar, not salt.  I had forgotten my salt shaker, so the next best thing available was sugar.  Immediately, the paint started getting pushed aside!  It was very exciting to watch.  This was the first time I had used sugar, so it was an experiment on my part.  I think it was successful in making it appear like there were some 'mystery' leaves in the painting.

I didn't use maskoid on any of the white, but rather used control during the background work.  I find the masking causes too sharp an edge; plus it's a real challenge to see if I can do it without messing up the flower and leaves. 
 
Next, I worked on the leaves trying to use various colors of yellows and green.  Intermingling spots of the flower color into the leaves brings interest into them and reduces boredom and that "ho hum" look.

The flower itself was first painted by varying Cadmium Yellow Light and New Gamboge on a wet surface.  After that dried, I layered in oranges and reds, keeping spots of the highlights clean.  I usually work with a #6 or #8 Steven Quiller round brush, because it holds a lot of pigment and has a nice sharp point,  A #1 round was used for the finer detail in the center of the flower. 

If you have questions regarding this painting, I would be happy to answer them.  Please feel free to contact me at www.karenmattson.com or email me at artistic@karenmattson.com

Enjoy and may your fall days be filled with color and light.