Bluebrush

"Bluebrush," 8 x 8 mixed media with acrylic and pastel on 140 lb watercolor paper

This is a project started with a trip to Ennis this past April.  I was especially drawn to the Indian Paintbrush, mixed in with all the Texas Bluebonnets.

I took this photo of an Indian Paintbrush:

I cropped the photo, emphasizing the flower's opening as a focal point:

 

I was most interested in the organic shapes within the flower, and I thought diagonal direction of the image would accentuate the focal point.  I sketched the flower with charcoal directly onto an 8 x 8 canvas and completed an ultramarine blue under painting using acrylic paints.   

My intention was to glaze the under painting and create a realistic, colorful image.  After many layers of glaze, I realized this project was not going to work.  Maybe I was too impatient.  The colors were not doing what I wanted them to do, and I regretted painting over my beautiful blue under painting.  I had already scanned the under painting, and so I printed my image onto 140 lb watercolor paper.  I then went over it with PanPastels, giving it a soft, velvety effect.  I ultimately made the choice to emphasize the blues and purples of the surrounding Bluebonnets instead of the peaches and pinks of the Indian Paintbrush.  My final product is almost monochromatic, with violet and magenta dabbed in for a bit of whimsy. While abstract colors are used, the flower itself maintains its soft texture within the final painting.