Blooming Magnolia

I finished "Blooming Magnolia" today, adding shades of pink to the flower center, and strengthen the shadow colors with a mixture of Permanent Rose, Cobalt Blue and Ivory Black. I found that the mixture of Cobalt Blue and Ivory Black gives a nice, clear cold blue-grey which works great for shadows on these magnolia flowers. Lamp Black, on the other hand, is too warm and makes a purple-grey when mixed with Cobalt Blue. The flower was painted in by first wet each pedal with clear water, then use a small brush (Jack Richeson Kolinsky Sable #6) and a very stiff mix to almost "dry brush" in. On very small areas, this method has better control of the shapes with soft edges than the traditional "wet-into-wet' applications.

Blooming Magnolia,  Watercolor on Arches 140# Rough Paper , 7"h x 5"w, 2012#7

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Work in Progress: Spring Breeze II and Blooming Magnolia

I did a little more work on the foreground tulip of "Spring Breeze II" -- adding various shades of delicate pinks and lavenders.

Spring Breeze II,  Watercolor on Arches 140# Rough Paper , 7"h x 5"w, WIP 2

I also started a magnolia painting -- my second attempt of using masking fluid and doing a dark background before the subject. It took three coats of Indigo, Ultramarine Violet and Ivory Black mixture to create the rich night sky blue in the background. I also lifted the background branches before painting in the flower. This time, I sprayed a little Winsor & Newton Workable Fixative on the pencil drawing before applying the masking fluid -- it worked! The pencil lines did not come off after peeling off the masking fluid. It also did not alter the paper surface. I am happy with the result so far...

Blooming Magnolia,  Watercolor on Arches 140# Rough Paper , 7"h x 5"w, WIP 1