Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Orchid Progression

I had two more of these 12 x 24 canvases so I thought I would paint an orchid from my house-(it's fake). Still lives are hard for me to do because I get too detailed but I am trying to just paint the likeness rather than the thing itself. 

I just stuck the Orchid on the desk with some cardboard behind it. Certainly not a professional still life but it just gives me the shape and some shadows.


Then I quickly sketch it out just to see if I could do it with a Sharpie. 


Below the canvas was already painted black so I decided to stencil some texture with Wood Icing.



I had two of these canvases so my first thoughts were to paint them both at the same time.

Here is a close-up of the texture with some brown gesso added. The brown gesso adds a folk art look to the paintings when it peeks through.

I sketched out both of the canvases with a chalk pencil.

Then below I blocked in the images using negative painting.
From there I worked just on the green one because I am not sure if I will paint another Orchid on the blue one. Maybe I will turn it into something else. I used a palette knife for the flowers and for the texture in the planter base. So here is the finished green one with lots of texture, stamps, scratching, sanding and.... praying.


16 comments:

Pat said...

It's wonderful Martha! Thanks for sharing the process. I have wood icing but have not tried it yet...now I am inspired to try it. What talent!

Kelly said...

Beautiful! I loved watching it progress in steps :)

Mirjam said...

This is a beautiful !

Janie Husband said...

what a wonderful art space you have....thanks for sharing this with us, martha.....i love the painting and inspiration.....

Cori Lynn Berg said...

REally nice! It's so helpful to see progression pictures! This isn't the way I paint at all, so it's helpful to understand how another artist gets from A to z!

Nancy Bowron said...

What an inspiration! I tend to get so fixed on details...I love the freedom of creativity in your pieces!

dinny said...

Your artwork is truly inspiring! I also LOVE when you show the progress. I have seen you using text on your pieces before and wanted to know how you do it... stamp, stencil, handwritten?

jgr said...

Martha, these are SO beautiful!! I loved seeing your process, too.

Unknown said...

I am a big admirer of your art and I just wanted to tell you that you have really found your niche. I love the final outcome of this piece! Thanks for sharing the process.

Terrie said...

I am so in awe! I loved the black and white textural start, didn't like the addition of the brown so much, but then each progressive layer is fab. The finished piece is so great - I like the addition of the white text bits...it brightens and subtly repeats the orchid colors...I'm so inspired!

Michelle O'Connor said...

ok, here's my list:
wood icing
brown gesso---I dindn't know it came in colors?!??!!! Love seeing your process and the outcome. I really love looking at your work.

lori vliegen said...

gorgeous!! i love all that orchid texture.....fabulous!!
xox

Eulalia said...

Great job!
Fantastic work in progress: I like it very much.
Your picture are really masterpieces.
Thanks for sharing Martha.
xoxoxo Eulalia from Italy

Marie aka Grams said...

Terrific. A Whole new look!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful orchids, Martha! You're an inspiration to us all.
TFS
Grandma Nancy Sapp

Catherine said...

This is gorgeous, the way you add texture and color amazes me. I'd also love to know where you got the church window stencil.

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