In this chapter, we're diving into the vibrant world of petunias, a subject that offers a delightful blend of color and texture, perfect for honing your painting skills. As we explore this scene, you'll learn how to create a rich, textural background that sets the stage for the lively blooms. We'll delve into the art of premixing greys, a crucial skill that helps bring depth and realism to your work. By focusing on painting with shapes and using edges to draw attention, you'll discover how to guide the viewer's eye and create a compelling composition. This lesson is not just about capturing the beauty of petunias; it's an opportunity to reflect on your journey as an artist. Whether you're a seasoned painter or just starting, this study will challenge and inspire you, revealing new insights into your creative process. Let's enjoy the meditative and rewarding experience of painting these beautiful flowers together.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
"Petunias" 11 x 11" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson.
Step 6Mixing greys and greens
Mix a Neutral Grey
Combine equal amounts of burnt sienna and blue with a lot of white. This will create a grey that is fairly neutral and slightly cooler, lighter than a mid-grey. Use a neutral mid-grey palette to judge the mixture accurately.
Create Cool and Warm Greys
For a cool grey, add more blue to the mixture, making it cooler and lighter than a mid-grey. For a warm grey, increase the burnt sienna and reduce the blue, keeping a similar value but with a warmer tone. Both greys are useful for capturing subtle colors in petunias.
Mix a Green
Start with yellow and add a small amount of blue to it. Notice how little blue is needed to transform yellow into a strong green. Keep your mixes organized on the palette to prevent confusion.
Begin your painting journey by focusing on the beauty of the petunias themselves. Zoom in on the flowers to create a composition that emphasizes their elegance, reminiscent of a Japanese or Oriental style. Prepare your canvas with a balanced tone and a textured background to set the stage for your floral study.
As you progress, use a variety of brushes to manage different levels of detail, starting with broad strokes and moving to finer details. Mix greys and greens thoughtfully to capture the subtle hues of the petunias, and be mindful of the temperature and intensity of your colors to maintain harmony in your composition.
In the final stages, refine your highlights and edges with precision, using cool tones to reflect natural light. Make careful adjustments to colors and edges to enhance realism and depth. Remember to maintain focus on the main elements, ensuring that your petunias stand out against a well-balanced background.
Points to remember
Zoom in and crop out distractions to emphasize the beauty of the flowers.
Add a bit of blue to your tone mix if it appears too rich, achieving a warm mid-grey.
Use a thin wash of oils over acrylic to adjust the background color intensity.
Squint at your subject to better see large shapes and focus on composition.
Use the very tip of a crisp brush to achieve precise edges on the petunias.
Mix cool colors into white to create realistic highlights on white objects.
Use a clean brush with a little solvent to create crisp edges when the background is dry.
Clean your brush after every stroke when softening background edges to maintain the effect.
