Painting Demonstration 1
The key to this sketch the play between transparent, greenish azo yellow and opaque, orangish cadmium yellow. Broadly, the petals are azo yellow, very transparent. The center cone is cadmium yellow and much more opaque in contrast.
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Painting Demonstration 2
I'm using a very simple palette of 4 colors, azo yellow, cadmium yellow, cobalt violet and cobalt teal, with a dash of quinacridone rust for a very finishing touch.
I'm not using a limited palette for a challenge or anything. Painting outside is enough of a challenge without adding new ones. I'm using a limited palette because bright as the daffodils are, it's a fairly subtle painting.
In the studio, I would paint the pale yellow daffodils in many layers, letting them dry in between each one. Plein aire, that's not really an option.
Painting Demonstration 3
I do take advantage of a little drying time to start the second facing page in my journal. I'm staying very loose, with no definite focus in this sketch.
Artist Tips
Paint very loosely until the very last details.
Painting Demonstration 4
A few more streaks of cobalt teal mixed with azo yellow make that perfect chalky daffodil green.
Painting Demonstration 5
Working back on the first page, I start adding cobalt violet to the yellows. This gives me a slightly dulled shadow without looking dreary. After all, I need just barely enough contrast to make the brighter areas glow with color.
Painting Demonstration 6
Even though I've only been out here a few minutes, the light's changed. Shadows have fallen across my paper.
It's time to add some darker cobalt violet and cobalt teal mix to make the flowers stand out.
Painting Demonstration 7
Just a tiny bit of blurring at edges and a few details. I don't really want to use opaque white on this since it will deaden the cadmium yellow and azo yellow contrast. So I'm leaving my whites and refining some edges.
Final Watercolor Sketch!
A few touches of quinacridone rust for the stamens and around the painting and I'm done except for splatter paint!
This is just a happy little daffodil sketch. I kept most detail to the 2 flowers facing me and most contrast on the left one only. This keeps the composition light and simple. There's a bit of a Hogarth curve happening as well, which keeps your eye moving.
I hope this inspires you to take a few minutes and paint some spring flowers this year!
