Autumn Delight

When I am up to date with all my art commitments I love to find something new to me to have a play in my studio.

Not sure where I first saw this product - somewhere on the web but I finally had the time to purchase some and have a play. There are a few metal choices and I just purchased 3, silver, bronze and rich pale gold. I have used two in paintings during this month (April 2021) - the bronze and silver.

The small bottles are packed to the brim with powder pigment made from real metal and can be used to sprinkle into a wash, dilute with water and use like paint. I find when I use a new product there seems a real freedom with my brushstrokes and this is evidence of having fun and being un careful!

 Silver makes it's debut 

I follow the same process every time I start a new painting that of course first comes from an inspiration.
For my latest painting it has come from a variety of influences. 

• Firstly the little silver eye bird has been on my to do list for some time.
  

• Viewing a photo of a little green bird amongst some camellia

• Gardening in Autumn -potting two new Camellia last week

• Researching white camellia and reading that one variety is called Autumn delight.

• Wanting to paint a full sheet work. 

Voila!

My Autumn Delight will be big, have the silver eye birds, beautiful white camellia blooms and touches of my new aqua silver pigment.

• The reference image was my inspiration but the bird species needed changing - I have 2 bird reference books so I can easily see the nuances for the one I want to paint. 
  
  I make my colour selection and do a quick little painting study to see if I have everything I need.

• A light drawing, being careful with the shapes and placement of the birds but just big outlines of where to leave the white of the paper for the flowers.

• Adding my colours  for the background of yellow, blues and greens and letting them mingle on the paper.

• Allow to Dry

• Paint the birds and flowers

• Evaluate background and darken where needed, paint negative and positive shapes for foilage and use accents of silver to complete the story.