Painting Demonstration 1
I love painting orchids in winter. Painting phalaenopsis orchids is a wonderful excuse to fill my home with orchids when the days outside are gray and cold. Phalaenopsis orchids are bright little jewels that give some color and life inside. (I have to admit, I always get a Sharry Baby oncidium at Christmas to fill the house with the rich smell of chocolate!) My real weakness is the phragmipedium, but really I love all orchids!
Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!
Painting Demonstration 2
We always go to Peach State Orchids,a wonderful orchid grower a little north of Atlanta, Georgia. I've made the pilgrimage here for years to get my winter orchids and Christmas presents. I took some photos to sketch this year. I'd love to sketch them there, but a two year old running amuck through the beautiful flowers makes me shudder!
As you can see, this place is overwhelming. They usually have a ton of phalaenopsis orchids for the Christmas season in every color.
Painting Demonstration 3
So how do I decide what to paint? It's all so gorgeous. How can I leave any of it out? Well unfortunately, to make a decent sketch, I have to limit what to paint to the essentials. I don't want fussy details.
Now, I could paint the whole thing, yellow white light, green leaves and jeweled flowers. I might do that at some point, but that's the sort of thing that really needs a larger scale to easily work. So I'm cropping my sketch to just a lovely pink phaeleonopsis grouping.
Artist Tips
If you ever feel like you're getting too serious and precise about a sketch, add some 1-2 colors of splatter paint, just a dash.If you're feeling wimpy, splatter with clear clean water. That will loosen you up and remind you that sketching is fun!
Painting Demonstration 4
I start with just a light sketch. I'm just looking for the basic shapes of the flowers and shadows. I start with a light wash of quinacridone red and cobalt blue.
Painting Demonstration 5
I continue with more of the pink and outline with cobalt blue. A few dashes of pthalo green add nice contrast. I let the colors blur a bit. This is a quick, loose sketch in my sketchbook, not a finished painting. I'm playing!
Painting Demonstration 6
So I play! I need some strong darks, pthalo green and burnt sienna. I dash in more cobalt blue. I splatter some quinacridone red!
Painting Demonstration 7
I build up a bit of depth in the thick petals and strengthen some darks. I really like the bright green contrast with the pink.
Final Watercolor Sketch!
This sketch isn't a masterpiece, but it is a lovely few minutes sketching with a bright, cheerful sketch at the end.
There's a freedom about painting in a sketchbook. It's bound together. I suppose I could take a sketchbook apart, but I never have yet. I keep one with me most of the time. A sketchbook is a place to experiment, take chances, or just brighten your day with a fun little sketch.
What will you sketch today?
Related Art Lessons
