WOW!!! DEVIL'S TRUMPET IS FEATURED!!!

Devil's Trumpet

Watercolor by Barbara Rosenzweig

WOW!

An unexpected honor - I got an email Friday morning telling me that my Devil's Trumpet watercolor is being featured for one week on Great Finds!!! This painting was selected from Etsy shops with the theme of Midnight Skies to compete in a collection of other handmade articles.

It will run until next Saturday, September 17. There is a poll where viewers can vote for their favorite item. If you like my painting, please vote for it or choose anything else that tickles your fancy.

This is the first time that a painting of mine has been featured in such a special way! The Voting Poll is on the left side of the page at the Bottom of the page on http://madeformebyoaklie.com/greatfinds.html.

There is nothing to buy, no obligation. You will see lots of interesting items and I hope that you will participate!

Linking to Motivate Me Monday, Share the Love Wednesday, Sizzle into Summer, Wordish Wednesday.

THE MAKING OF A PAINTING

Photograph of a Devil's Trumpet - Datura*

Greetings!
I thought that it would be neat for you to see how I create some of my paintings.
When I was on a garden tour, I saw this beautiful flower and photographed it. I look for interesting shapes, shadows, and color contrasts. Devil's Trumpet or Datura is often confused with Brugmansia, whose flowers hang down.
First, I drew the flower in pencil on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper. Usually, I start painting the flower, but this time I thought that I'd do the background first. Since there were distracting tomato plant leaves behind this flower in the photo, I decided to ignore them and make a blend of colors instead. For this background, I used a combination of ultramarine deep blue, Russian green, and indigo blue - colors that I would use to paint the flower. I felt that if it were rich and dark, it would add great depth, making the flower "pop."

Next, keeping my photo close by, I started to paint the shadows of the flower and tried to remember to use values from very dark to light giving the illusion of a three-dimensional flower.

I used ultramarine deep blue until I thought that I had the shadows finished (below).

When I thought that I was close to being done, the flower looked dead to me. It lacked warmth. It had no character.

I decided to add permanent rose paint to the flower shadows and soften some of the hard lines and adjust some shapes that weren't quite right. Finally, I completed the leaves, adding a glaze (or thin layer of paint) of quinacridone gold to give it a bit of a glow, but not making it a distraction,taking your eye away from the flower.

"Devil's Trumpet"

by Barbara Rosenzweig



I think that it is finished! ...or is it? What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions!

Linked to and Outdoor Wednesday. Alphabe-Thursday, Open House Party, Cottage Flora Thursday, Inspiration Friday, Macro Flowers Saturday (*This site has a wonderful description of the Datura!) .

DEEP PURPLE

                                          "Double Devil's Trumpet"
                     Botanical Limited Edition Matted Watercolor Print
                                      By Artist Barbara Rosenzweig

In creating this unique fantasy collection, Curator Jacqueline Veach of YoungHeartWhimsy says, "Fairies, faeries everywhere. Seen in dreams. Seen indoors. Seen outdoors. Seen in a boat. Seen in a river, lake, and pond. Seen when looking. Seen with Playsilks, frogs, Bird of Paradise and zebra with many rainbow colors. Fairies "painted" them so beautifully. Faeries seen in love. You were about to tell me they don't exist? Why I am surprised! Etsians, please look for them below." I'm so pleased that she included my Double Devil's Trumpet painting!