Heliconias - Painting Demo

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos
Contemporary Art

Oil Painting on Canvas by Beatriz Socorro
 Heliconias
30 x 40 cm

As I have mentioned before, some of the photos vary in color, depending on the time of day or whether I have photographed them indoors or outdoors. The true colors are the ones you can see on the above photo (the finished painting).

If this is your first visit, please go to OIL PAINTING LESSONS and read: "Art Notes" and "Oil Painting Tips" and be sure to read through at least the first 3 demos (preferably the first six).
There is important information in the previous demos that I don´t repeat in the subsequent ones.

STEP 1

Background: On your palette mix three different shades of:
Cadmium Yellow Deep + Cadmium Yellow Pale + White
- Remember to add to your paint the appropriate medium for each layer.
- Notice that the darker shades are below the foliage.

In the following photos,  you can see how the colors are totally off. I took these photos at night with the existing indoor lighting. 
So, be sure to use the topmost photo as reference for your colors

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 1

If  you're not messy like me, you can proceed to the next step. I you´re messy, wait for the background to dry before you proceed. I waited for it to dry.

STEP 2

Next, block the flower and the leaves.

Flower: Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Yellow Deep
Leaves: Cadmium Yellow Deep + Thalo Green  + a pinch of White
Yellow: Cadmium Yellow + White

Notice the blank space. That´s because, after letting the background dry, I decided to make the top leaf smaller. You don´t need to leave that space blank. Fill it in while your doing your background.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 2

ALLOW TO DRY WELL BEFORE GOING TO THE NEXT STEP.

STEP 3

On you palette, mix Cadmium Yellow + Cadmium Yellow Deep and add the highlights to the flower as in the following photo.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 3

STEP 4

Next scrumble the edges of the yellow highlights into the dried red paint.
You don´t want to cover all the red but only along the edge to soften it.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 5

Using a lighter shade of the same green mix, add the highlights where needed.

ALLOW TO DRY WELL

STEP 5

With the original red color mix (Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Yellow Deep) make a glaze  and glaze the entire flower.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 5

STEP 6

Finally, using green,  fill in the center of the immature fruits at the base of the bracts.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos -STEP 6

You´re done!!!
I hope you enjoyed it.
God Bless!!!