Tulip by SA Daigle

Photo © SA Daigle

"Tulip" by SA Daigle. 9x12" (23x30cm). Watercolor.

From the Artist: This still life was a challenge. I have started to do watercolour paintings again, after a very long time. Way back when I was taught how to use gouaches, pastels and oils but never watercolours. I love acrylics, so needed a challenge and started using watercolour and I'm finding that I love this technique too.

I did this little project over and over (three times). I still don't have it all quite right but I've decided to send it along anyway. I'm finally getting the "feel" of this product and I now have all kinds of to-do painting projects in mind!

From the Painting Guide: I think watercolor is a medium that can suit flower paintings very well because of the delicate washes you can produce, where color fades gently to nothing.

Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Changing Colors: If you want to change the color of something in a still-life setup (or landscape, for that matter), it's easiest is you think of what you're looking at as tones, rather than hues. Mix up a series of tones in the color you're wanting to use, then match tone to tone.

Masking Fluid: A unique characteristic of watercolor is that you use the paper for anything white in the painting. If it's a small area or thin line, the easiest way to ensure you don't accidentally paint that bit is to first paint it with masking fluid or frisket. When you've finished painting, you gently rub off the masking fluid to reveal the white paper.

It's something that would work well with the highlights on the glass and water in this still-life. To my eye the glass is a bit too brown, it wants to be a bit more gray, and the highlights whiter.