Minerva Amaryllis Watercolor

Minerva Amaryllis 01This is a photograph of “Minerva Amaryllis”, one of our blossoming beauties that I will be painting in watercolor. Its petals range in color from salmon to pink with white tiger stripes extending out from the center. Peter grows this one, and many others in our kitchen window. When they quickly spring up with their bright blossoms it can literally take your breath away. Amaryllis always cheer up the house in the winter.

Step-By-Step

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First, I sketch the shapes using a 2H pencil, drawing very lightly so lines are erasable later. Then, I wet the first petal area being very careful to reserve (keep dry) the area in the middle. This dry area is where the white stripes will be. Proceeding on, I combine colors “wet-on-wet” in this pre-wetted area. Starting with a mixture of orange and gamboge yellow, then apply drops of quinacridone magenta and alizarin crimson for the darkest edges.

It is fascinating how the watercolors do almost all the work by themselves. They combine in expressive gradations until they make edges that are sharp right where the wetness stops. This picture shows how very brightly the colors look when wet, but, remember that they will fade as they dry.

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You can see how much the colors fade when dry when you compare the first image with this one.
Minerva Amaryllis 04The approach for the second, third (behind), and fourth petals are pretty much the same except for how the lighting and shadows change as they stack on top of each other.Minerva Amaryllis 05

Where a petal would cast a shadow on the petal underneath or behind it I add a touch more of the alizarin to darken it.Minerva Amaryllis 06

Next, look at the beginning of where the light and shadow occur on the flower surfaces. The stem below the blossom is heavily darkened.

Minerva Amaryllis 08Following this, apply a light wash in the background petals that is more muted in value to exaggerate distance.

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With a light wash showing the sky background and greenery texture from below to eye level, we can begin painting the details.

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