GAZANIA - OIL PAINTING DEMO

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos
Contemporary Art

Oil Painting on Canvas by Beatriz Socorro

To see the photo I used as a model for this painting, go to: Free Photos Gazanias

STEP 1

If this is your first visit, I recommend you read, at least, through the first 3 demos as well as read  Painting Tips and Art Notes. Also look through the archives for additional information.

You will notice that some of the photos differ slightly in color. This is because I usually like to work through the night (when I don´t have as many distractions) and, therefore, have to take some of the photos with indoor-lighting.  The true colors are the ones that you can see on the last photo.

First, prime the canvas with a coat of white acrylic paint and allow it to dry.  See ROSE DEMO 1 to see how it is applied.

Once the acrylic paint has dried well, transfer your sketch to the canvas.

On your palette mix three different shades of  Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Yellow Pale.

Since, at this time, we´re  not doing an under-painting, we don´t want the paint to be too thin.

Start with a medium mixture of:  3 tbs Turpentine + 3 eyedroppers Damar Varnish + 3 eyedroppers Linseed Oil.

For the Maroon color under the flower, mix: Magenta + Ultramarine Blue.

Please review the section: Fat-over-Lean in Painting Tips

Even if you have already read "Oil Painting Tips", I suggest you check it  out every-so-often, since on occasion I add new info to it.

Fill in the background.

ALLOW TO DRY TO THE TOUCH

STEP 2

On your palette, blend two different shades of Orange + Cadmium Yellow Pale.

First, fill in the center of the flower with the darker shade of orange.

Next, study the pictures below to see how the paint is applied to the petals.

Notice that I have left a small space between the two shades of color and also left a small space between each petal.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 2 a

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Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 2 b

Next, gently and softly blend the edges of the two different shades of color into each other.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 2 c

Leaves: Viridian Green + Cadmium Yellow

On your palette, mix two different shades of green and follow the same procedure for the leaves as you did with the flower.

ALLOW TO DRY WELL BEFORE PROCEEDING !!

STEP 3

Once the paint has dried well, add Cadmium Yellow Pale to the tip of each petal.

Remember to add the appropriate medium.

In the photo below, the petal on the right shows how the paint is applied before it is blended.

The petal on the left shows what it looks like after being blended.

At the very edge where the orange meets the yellow, what we want to do is more like "scumbling".

We want this area to be a gradual transition between the two colors. When nearing this area, I used a stiff flat and a butterfly brush. This allows for the under color to show through.

Do this with each petal.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 3 a

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Oil Painting Lessons/Demos -  STEP 3 b 

ALLOW TO DRY TO THE TOUCH.

STEP  4

Using the same colors as you did with the leaves, on your palette mix a lighter and a darker shade of green.

Enlarge the photo to see how it was applied to the center of the flower.

Using lighter and darker shades of the same green, add highlights and shadows to the leaves (where needed) . Scumble the highlights and the shadows. Use the same scumbling method as used in ROSE DEMO 1

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 4

ALLOW TO DRY TO THE TOUCH.

STEP 5

Use a lighter shade of orange (mix Orange + Cadmium Yellow Pale) to add the stamens to the center of the flower. Enlarge the photo to see how this was done.

For the yellow spots in the center, use Cadmium Yellow Pale + a touch of White.

This time I applied the yellow spots in the center with the smallest round brush I own, instead of the paper clip. Use whatever works best for you.

Oil Painting Lessons/Demos - STEP 5

Next, fill in the spaces between the flower petals with a slightly darker shade of orange.

Once you´re finished with the flower, use a lighter shade of the same Maroon color that you used on the background (lighten it up by adding White) and fill in the flower bud.

ALLOW TO DRY

STEP 6

Enlarge the  painting below.

Notice that under the yellow highlights on the flower bud, I first outlined where the highlights will be with a thin shade of orange.

Do likewise. With a light shade of orange, outline where your highlights will be.

Then, with Cadmium Yellow Pale, add the final highlights. I find that a soft flat brush works well for applying the thin lines.

Oil Painting on Canvas by Beatriz Socorro - Gazania

I am not sure as to whether or not, later on, I will add a light orange wash over the bud or maybe even lighten up the highlights on the bud or just leave it the way it is.

If I do decide to make any changes to the bud, I will post it here.

But remember, we need to know when to stop...

We´re done!!

I hope you have enjoyed this demo!

God Bless!

Beatriz Socorro