Astonished
It was like a crime scene: the beauty lay on the floor, mangled and broken; a mess of soil and tangle of roots lay about her. Alas, it was the amaryllis’s own radiance that did her in. Her blossoms grown so heavy atop the three-foot stalk that she tumbled off the table to the floor just two days after opening. Stricken in her prime— and while having her portrait painted!— I salvaged what I could, dissected one flower for study, and finished these pages.
I have spent the last month astonished by this plant, and now, am so grateful that I made time for these journal paintings before the fall (see the first painting here).
Tips and Techniques– Here are two very different approaches to painting flowers. In the first carefully-rendered ink drawing, I used a Micron pen (size 02), and then added a few layers of watercolor. I love the pen drawing for capturing the unfurling blossoms and twisted sepals. Once the flowers opened, I wanted a more exuberant approach, so I used layers of very loose washes, combining negative and positive painting techniques to bring out the flowers. I wish I had left more white or masked some white areas at the start, particularly for the stamens…notice how much more light-filled the tight drawing is, simply because I left more white. It’s good reminder for next time: let the paper play its part in the piece.
Drawn In 
Absolutely beautiful, Jean!! 🌸❤️
Thanks Pattyann!
Jean, I love how you show the contrast of these 2 techniques. I strive to paint in a looser style but detail is what I seem to enjoy.
Me too. It’s taken me a long time to loosen up, but I still enjoy the details of a tight drawing.
Stunning, Jean. Thank you for describing your two different approaches.
Hi Cheryl- Thanks. I’m glad I had a chance to approach it both ways. I did the initial bulb painting with a more detailed approach too and wanted to mirror that. But the flowers just seemed way too outrageous to render them tightly.
Love both of these!
Especially the looseness of the second one.
Your example is inspiring. I like what you shared in words and pictures.
Thanks Janet! Congrats on your book!! What an accomplishment.
Ah, but together they sing! They are complete!!
I do like seeing them together. They both work in their own ways.
This is gorgeous, Jean! 😍 And thanks so much for sharing a bit of your process and approach!
Thanks Charlie- Did I just see that you published a book? Congrats on your many successes with Doodlewash.
Aww thanks, Jean! 😃💕 Well, self-published a little illustrated cookbook that Philippe and I made. It was a fun project and turned out great!
Jean these are two beauties. I really loved your use of loose water color in the back round to create the canvas in which the blossom pops! I realize too, that I enjoy like seeing the pen/pencil lines of the artists work. Thanks for the breath of fresh air!
Thanks much. I like seeing those pencil lines too.
ours did just the same thing. That’ll be four years in a row. I’ve asked my aunt to stop buying them for me as it depresses me every time they fall and break their neck. Poor flower.
That is sad, but beautiful work.
Lovely, especially the unfurling!
Thanks Anna. I like that one too.
Awesome 👌👍
Thanks Nidhi– glad you are following!
It’s my pleasure🤗
I just love the opening sentences to this post! Your work and your words are inspiring.