Learning to paint again - part 3 - Feijoa Flower

This is the third of my flower paintings. I love this the best. I wanted to paint a pohutukawa flower but wasn't quite sure if i could manage all the stamens. Then i saw this and knew i wanted to try it.

Learning to paint again - part 2

I had not got back here to share more of the pictures i painted this year. This one is a Spraxia Lily closeup. I love lilies andi love spraxias, so this caught my fancy. I loved the way the petals go into a whorl where they join. The background seems flat and dark, but in fact it has a texture of whorls, done with the end of my brush, which echo the one at the base of the petals. I loved painting this, though it was such a strange experience to be painting again.

Learning to Paint again

My mother has been asking me when I am going to start painting again, and i have always said "not yet" "I'm too busy" and "When i do start to paint again it will be quite different to how i used to paint."
Little did i know....
For the Winter "summer School" for adults, which our church ran recently, one of the courses was "Simple Flower Painting for Beginners". A good place to start, you think? Well i was interested, but wasn't sure i would have time to attend, is i had visitors coming, and also had to prepare for the Children's Holiday Program the week after.
However, God decided to give me a little shove. The tutor wanted an assistant - and guess who offered? Muggins here. I said "if you teach me your painting style first, so that i know what is going to be expected, then i can help with the others." Hmm... painting... Adults... And i normally work with children... BIG learning curve!
Well I duly trotted off the shop for paints, canvasses, brushes etc, and then along to the tutor for some short lessons. Then off home i went to start painting.
The result was my very first flower painting, the Cymbidium Orchids. I struggled over this one for a week or so, as I used to paint faces, and as you might understand, its a quite differnt technique. I chose to just do two of a large hanging bract of orchids. The color is brighter than normal as I had to learn to mix colors again, after many years of not painting. I only used 5 colors to mix from for all my paintings.
By the way, the painting course went off really well, and we were astounded at the pictures produced that day. Says a lot for our tutor doesnt it?
Catch you later with the second of my paintings
blessings
MotherGosling

"The Joy of the Lord is your Strength" Nehemaiah 8.10