Art blog
Why Artists paint flower blooms
My favorite flower bloom I keep painting are tulips, I cannot for the life of me, get enough of paintings, drawings and crafts on tulip flowers.
We all have a favorite flower. We plant them in our gardens, we buy them at the florist, we are given them as bouquets to celebrate a a birthday, anniversary or to wish us a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, most flower blooms have a short life.
I love flowers and as an artist, I have learned to preserve something of their essence in a flower painting forever. If you have ever wished you could do this with a favorite flower bloom, then read on.
Flower painting has a wonderful history. Botanical art has been used to document numerous species of flowers and plants.
There is something very satisfying and magical about painting a flower and preserving just what it was like forever.
Of course, flower photographs can do the same but when you paint you have the added pleasure of carefully examining the curves and colors of each petal, stamen, stem and leaf.
You have to observe the way the light catches the flower and use this information to give it a 3D presence on your paper. By painting flowers, you get to know them intimately.
I would advise anyone wanting to start painting to begin with their favorite flower, no matter how complex it might seem.
By choosing your favorite, you will be motivated to try again to render it well.
Your feelings have a better chance of being transferred into your flower painting too.
When a flower painting makes you gasp, it is because it initially did the same for the artist and they have found a way of sharing that with you. It doesn't matter if your attempts aren't perfect.
Each time you try you will become more familiar with it's shape. It will seem easier to paint and you will notice more about the nuances of color and the way light can affect it.
Of course, there are some useful techniques which might help you learn flower painting. Many excellent art books have been written about this topic and your bookstore will certainly have several.
But be wary of simply copying another artists' techniques. You may be surprised to find that you are less satisfied with the results than you are with simply observing your favorite flower and perfecting your vision of it with each attempt.
Try drawing with different materials, have fun and keep all your attempts. You will be encouraged to see how your vision and skill improves simply by practice.
I use Inks, both alcohol and water based inks and I love them because of their beautiful range of colors, from very pale to vibrant hues.
This is not exactly a favorite of most flower and botanical artists who are more inclined to use watercolor, for reasons best suited them, I would think good of course.
The way you can allow one rich vibrant color to randomly bleed into another, just as it does in nature, is wonderful!
As you can tell, I am fanatical about flower painting but I do hope I have managed to awaken a little curiosity in you.
Have a go! What have you got to lose?....You can start with my flower coloring book for adults and paint with acrylic markers, oil markers or even watercolor... Enjoy.
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MIABO ENYADIKE