Summer's End
oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches
oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches
For this painting I decided to work on a larger scale than I've been used to and I'm now keen to try some more larger paintings as there are advantages to working on this scale, not least that I can more easily add detail.
I returned to one of my favourite subjects, hydrangeas, and in this painting I wanted to focus on the changes from the fresh, vibrant summer flowers through to the faded dried flowerheads (saved from last autumn). I love the way the flowers go through a whole range of colour changes, both when left on the shrub in the garden, and when cut and allowed to slowly dry out. Last years flower heads still have slight touches of blue and pink here and there. I intend adding these subtle touches of colour using glazes later when the paint has dried, but for now here's the painting from the initial underpainting to the final result.
I returned to one of my favourite subjects, hydrangeas, and in this painting I wanted to focus on the changes from the fresh, vibrant summer flowers through to the faded dried flowerheads (saved from last autumn). I love the way the flowers go through a whole range of colour changes, both when left on the shrub in the garden, and when cut and allowed to slowly dry out. Last years flower heads still have slight touches of blue and pink here and there. I intend adding these subtle touches of colour using glazes later when the paint has dried, but for now here's the painting from the initial underpainting to the final result.
