I presented this as a sketch in April and the sketch has been floating around in my studio since then. As an inveterate fiddler it was only time before I had another go. I wanted to break up and explain the background better and pay more attention to the reflected light and give more deference to my wife`s flower arranging. At least this time its not on the back of another painting , which for me, is a step forward.
Other floral painting are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I have been lethargic of late and this was an attempt to break the cycle. I wanted to do a loose painting of a jugful of flowers my wife had gathered from the garden.
It started loose but became tighter as I played around with the lights and shadows. I think this approach works well with large blooms such as the camellias, but the daisies and other small flowers broke the rhythm and had me scratching around and tightening up.
Having completed the exercise I can see where improvements in technique can be made. Now, I just need to break the lethargy…
Other floral paintings can be found on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I bought some daffodils for the house and later, whilst cleaning, stood the vase on a worktop in front of a window and thought that it might make an uplifting painting.
I decided to crop the flowers to give the feeling of them bursting out and filling the frame. As usual I had a tussle with shading the yellows and I had hoped to get petal shapes in the background by creating some negative shapes, well, I tried, but I did manage to get a little movement there that, I think, adds to the energy.
Other floral paintings are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
I joined a new group who put on exhibitions in the area as working on your own limits the things you can do, particularly if you have to man the exhibition. In that case you need others to do a few days to allow you to get on with some painting. So for the next exhibition I thought I might do a few flower paintings and here is one. The exhibition is in a vacant shop in the centre of town and the group are celebrating the life of one of their members who has recently died of cancer.
The poster is below if you want to come along.
Other flower paintings are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
graham mcquade 