Painting flowers is always harder than it seems. It’s all too easy to make them stiff and un-natural looking.
Despite the fact that we see flowers all over the place, on a daily basis, it’s often quite difficult to capture the essence of a particular flower – the shape, the tone, the angle of the stem. It all adds up to making the general impression.
So why am I painting flowers from a French field?
About a year ago my friend, Olivia Quintin called to tell me about a painting week she was organising on Belle Ile. I would have jumped at the chance to paint on the island, and when she told me that the other tutor was to be Fabio Cembranelli, I was completely hooked. Fabio’s atmospheric painting style is one I have admired for some time, and Olivia paints with stunningly vibrant colour mixes. Fantastic combination of tutors and some dedicated painting time on a beautiful island. What could be better?
This is the result of my second day of working with Fabio and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I’ve loved doing this painting and have now been spurred on to do more like it.
Painting Flowers from a French Field
The field opposite our little complex of chalets is a mass of wild flowers. There are sunflowers, wild crysanthemums, pink cosmos, white cosmos and cornflowers. Painting flowers is almost unavoidable when you have that much fantastic material on the doorstep. Here’s one bunch that provided inspiration for the artists who wanted to spend time painting flowers.
Fabio’s approach to painting flowers is not to slavishly follow the bouquet in front of him. Instead he uses the shapes and colours as inspiration, but takes artistic licence on the composition and in adding new flowers to bring in colours and form to enhance the original image.
Plein Air painting with Olivia tomorrow. What surprises will that bring?
This is a beautiful painting! So envious of you taking a workshop with both of these wonderful artists 🙂
It’s been a fantastic week so far, Rhonda. I’m learning a huge amount and having a fantastic time.
Superbe !!!!
You lucky girl Vandy, I so wanted to go on this workshop but the travel time and costs out of the question at this time. You have done a beautiful job on the floral painting
Fantastic Vandy!!
Wow!
Birthday bouquet! have a lovely one Vandy!
Oh no!!! I cannot keep up which is my favourite anymore… this is fanastic… well done Vandy…
Beautiful work and how lucky you are to learn more with great artists. Good luck!
Keep at it!
Exquisite
Love it! Soft and fresh…
Vandy – these are lovely. Looks absolutely loose and pretty at the same time.
You are a quick study Vandy. Lucky you doing a workshop with Fabio. Lovely painting.
Lucky you it sounds like the best way to spend one’s free time 🙂 It is a beautiful painting. Ironically for the last few days I’ve been watching Fabio Cembranelli’s youtube videos and think it would be amazing to see him paint live and be able to chat to him about his painting style.