Making a Story Board
When making a composition from scratch it is helpful to gather all the information and reference material that will help the painting process easier.
My Royal Doulton vase (which is a decorative piece rather than used for flowers) was my starting point
I researched some details about my vase.
"This Royal Doulton stoneware Art Nouveau vase - X8721Y - by one of Doulton's leading ceramic artists, Lily Partington, has tube-lined fruit motifs and is 23 cm (11in) tall.
The vase has the impressed Doulton Circle mark with Lion that started use in 1922, and the monogram of Lily Partington. The shape is illustrated on page 221 (shape Y) of Desmond Eyles' 'The Doulton Lambeth Wares', dating the vase to about 1935. It is interesting to note the return to Art Nouveau styles in the middle of the Art Deco period. Emily and Lily Partington who may well have been mother and daughter, were two of the most prolific and successful ceramic artists at Doultons."
I painted just the vase, deciding to proceed with making a full composition if I was happy with it.
I decided on Hellebores for my flowers. They are an old world plant and this fact along with choosing a dark colour variety suited my story very well.
Using the reference photos for the flowers I sketched some shapes onto my paper. Starting with background washes first and a loose indication of some foliage I let this dry before working on the flowers.
