14
Oct
2013

Asiatic Lily in Watercolor

categories: My Artwork

Asiatic lily

My daughter painted this beautiful yellow Asiatic lily during a recent mother/daughter painting session. We haven’t painted together in a while, so it was nice to have my favorite painting partner join me for an evening of painting, small talk, and pumpkin lattes. To create the background texture, she sprinkled sea salt on the paint while it was still wet. It adds a lot of interest to an otherwise very simple painting.

As usual, she completed her painting first, so I’ll be showing my latest painting as soon as I finish it.

22 Comments on Asiatic Lily in Watercolor

  1. pamelajeannestudio
    October 14, 2013 at 2:51 pm (9 years ago)

    I love the sea salt effect. How did she keep it from bleeding into the flower? I am always having trouble with painting backgrounds. They always look splotchy.

    Reply
    • afternoonartist
      October 15, 2013 at 10:05 pm (9 years ago)

      She wet the background area with water first, then dropped in the color (she used blue-green at the bottom, faded it to light blue, and left the top of the sky white). While that was still wet she sprinkled on the sea salt. The paint and salt will not bleed into the dry parts of the painting. So she painted the background first, then let that dry, then painted the flower.

      Reply
  3. Carol King
    October 14, 2013 at 3:26 pm (9 years ago)

    What a beautiful lily,

    Reply
  4. Greta
    October 14, 2013 at 3:46 pm (9 years ago)

    Love the sea salt effect! Really sets a great background for the lily. Good job, Grets. Hard to figure out who is the better artist—–you or your Mom!?! Lol

    Reply
  6. Pat
    October 14, 2013 at 10:47 pm (9 years ago)

    Pretty!

    Reply
  7. Cindy D.
    October 14, 2013 at 11:06 pm (9 years ago)

    Very neat trick! And lovely flower!

    Reply
    • afternoonartist
      October 15, 2013 at 9:57 pm (9 years ago)

      Thanks, Cindy. If you use kosher salt you get a bigger displacement of water. This background was created using sea salt.

      Reply
  8. Caitie M
    October 15, 2013 at 7:03 am (9 years ago)

    Beautiful. i love the salt background and also the dark markings on the flower, they are very striking!

    Reply
    • afternoonartist
      October 15, 2013 at 9:56 pm (9 years ago)

      I think the salt background rocks. Have to try that technique myself.

      Reply
  9. shreejacob
    October 15, 2013 at 11:40 am (9 years ago)

    It’s absolutely gorgeous…and so alive!!! It’s great that you and your daughter have this great time together! :)

    Reply
    • afternoonartist
      October 15, 2013 at 9:54 pm (9 years ago)

      Thanks, Shree. I love our mother/daughter painting sessions.

      Reply
  10. Lan | morestomach
    October 15, 2013 at 3:03 pm (9 years ago)

    you and your daughter have such a lovely and distinct style. it’s bold and yet still delicate and feminine.
    i took an online watercoloring class over the summer, which i enjoyed, but it made me realize that i’m not made for the whimsical light touch painting.

    Reply
    • afternoonartist
      October 15, 2013 at 9:53 pm (9 years ago)

      Well, my first attempts at watercolor weren’t very pretty or satisfying. But I stuck with it and now I’m hooked.

      Reply
  11. elenacaravela
    October 15, 2013 at 11:25 pm (9 years ago)

    VEry effective use of salt! Lovely

    Reply

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