Dahlia with Curled Petals - Final

© Ellen Blonder

It probably took as long to layer on the darkest shades as it did to get to the progress shown in my last post. Now I can't wait for real dahlia season.

Dahlia with Curled Petals - Progress

© Ellen Blonder

After taking a break from a series of watercolor dahlia paintings, I realized there were more I had photographed and meant to paint ever since. This one has petals that curl in all directions.

© Ellen Blonder

No matter how dark I think my first shades of pink are, I always seem to go over them again and again as the flower takes shape.

© Ellen Blonder

Getting close.

Mauve Dahlia - Final

© Ellen Blonder

Since the last post, I've been adding more blacks mixed with the pink-mauve. I was planning to add a leaf or two, but decided I like this the way it is. Done.

Mauve Dahlia - 2

© Ellen Blonder

It always feels like the first layer of basic color will be dark enough, but it never is once I start adding shadows. I'm slowly layering in darker shades.

Mauve Dahlia - 1

© Ellen Blonder

Back from a drive into Oregon, where I saw this lovely dahlia. I'm starting a watercolor of it, and this is the first two days' progress.

© Ellen Blonder

Blueberries-Day 2

© Ellen Blonder

I haven't tried drawing in colored pencil for many years. Feels odd not needing to mix my colors on a palette beforehand, and it takes a different kind of patience to build the color up slowly so the pencil tracks don't show. This is more fun than I expected.