White Bouquet-Day 3

© Ellen Blonder

I'm going to play with a border or backgrounds for this, but otherwise, it's done. Happy summer!

White Bouquet-Days 1 and 2

© Ellen Blonder

After drawing the white peony in colored pencil, I wanted to paint in watercolor again and use white flowers as a subject. I love the calm beauty of a white bouquet. This one uses flowers in my garden: iceberg roses, white hydrangea, and an odd white campanula. It also has tiny chartreuse flowers from lady's mantle, bright green grape leaves and a spiky white flower whose name I can never remember. I spent the first day sketching directly onto watercolor paper, and the second laying in the first color.

Alex in the Garden-Final

© Ellen Blonder

I've added details to the hydrangea flowers and put in some ferns in the upper right background. I've also touched up many of the leaves and added shadows and ground covers. I could go on forever, but I think I'd better stop before this gets even busier. With all the different plants, this painting required more work than I anticipated.

Alex in the Garden-Day 10

© Ellen Blonder

Alex got his fur back, and looks much more himself. I also filled in the society garlic flowers by Alex's hind foot and added details to the fallen leaves. Now I just have to finish noodling out the foliage, especially the hellebore on the upper right side.

Alex in the Garden-Day 8

© Ellen Blonder

I'm still slowly working on the foliage to the left while Alex waits for me to add some fur to his body.

Alex in the Garden-Day 5

© Ellen Blonder

Progress is slow. The hydrangea flowers still need details, but I was eager to start painting other foliage in first. Alex went home yesterday, so it's nice to still have him in the painting.

Alex in the Garden-Day 4 Detail

© Ellen Blonder

Summer guests. Little time to paint or post, but here's the hydrangea in one corner of the painting of Alex in the garden. The leaves are just about finished, but the flowers just have an underpainting so far.