Painting flowers has always been a delight for me, but recently, I decided to changed it up by painting them larger than life and as an all-over pattern, instead of placing them in a vase. I don't know, just thought it would look more Contemporary. Anyway, you can resolve the composition while you are arranging flowers, in a traditional Still Life, but in an all-over pattern you have more freedom...which can easily get you into trouble. I started off happily with the top roses and Anemones, but quickly got into difficulty half way into the painting with shapes and values. The trick is to keep the eye moving from large shapes to smaller shapes, some light, some dark, some warm, some cool. Not everyone can be a star, in life and in art. If you want to please the eye, use variation, but with some repetition. Alas, after getting into trouble, some of these flowers were repainted multiple times. Naturally, after all that suffering, I had to throw some fun into the mix! See if you can find the Praying Mantis in the bouquet. Why a Praying Mantis, you ask? Well, I just think they are elegant and exotic while actually being quite docile to humans. I had a pet Praying Mantis as a child. I think I got it at the State Fair. Anyway, they do make cute pets, that is, unless you are their mate as most females eat the male after sex. Maybe he should First bring her flowers!
