I painted this so that it could be a companion piece to the Open Tulip and I felt that the background needed to be a little different but still dark. Initially I had less Alizarin and more green in the background, but it was so cold and lifeless, that I re-painted it. The green (although it is a Phthalo green), is called Permanent Green Deep in the W&N range. Complementary colours make very rich dark tones as opposed to black. The White Parrot tulip is altogether cooler than the Open … [Read more...]
Tulip stylisation
You'll be hearing about tulips for the next five weeks as Tulipmania sets in here! I will be in the Ucare charity tent at Art in Action 2016 as one of their artists, and I will be showing my oil paintings, doing an interactive group project and we'll be selling greeting cards. Oh, and tulip bulbs of course - the Ucare 'Tulipa Caresse' which you can order now (or at AinA) so that next summer you'll have a wonderful display. I am designing a set of greetings cards using this tulip. As you … [Read more...]
The Tulip project – Ucare
Scroll right down to read about the exciting Ucare project. If you are able to visit me at Aston Tirrold during Artweeks on the 21st and 22nd May, you'll see these tulips I was experimenting with, for the *Ucare Tulip Project...but - they were snapped up in the first hour at the opening of Artweeks! I have been experimenting with how I would like to paint tulips at Art in Action and I think I have found a way forward. The challenges I set myself were: Oil painting … [Read more...]
A tulip for Mum
The day after my mother died six years ago on 15 April 2010, my brother Des photographed this orange tulip in her garden. So when I was looking for close-up photographs of tulips for the tulip project, this one really resonated with me. Mom was a very gentle artistic woman, born in Bridport, Dorset in 1923, lived in South Africa for 56 years and returned 'home' aged 80, after my father died. The photo below was taken when she was a Wren and in love with the handsome Dutch sailor - my father. … [Read more...]