Painting a Slipper Orchid Part 4.

Hi, I have completed the painting of the Slipper Orchid. I did'nt have a lot to do but I am glad that it is finished. I used the same colour combinations to achieve the markings
which I applied to the sepals. I added the shading to the sepals before applying the markings. I find when using Fabriano Artistico paper this technique works much better and prevents any smudging of the markings. I then applied the markings to the stems and finally I added all the tiny individual hairs. This particular plant is very hairy. Overall I am pleased with the results.

Painting a Slipper Orchid Part 3

Hi, I have nearly finished my painting of the Slipper Orchid. I added the hairs to complete the flower on the left. I then tackled the flower from the back view. This was a little more tricky because I had to make sure all the markings on the petals were more subtle and softer. I used the same colour combinations as for the first flower but made them a weaker mix. The side petal patterning was achieved by applying the pattern with the brush and then gently dabbing the applied paint whilst wet with kitchen role to soften the effect. The final stages were to add the hairs to the flower where appropriate. I applied a flat green wash to the stems and the sepals varying the green as I proceeded. All that is left to finish is the patterning to the stem and all the hairs. The stems on these plants are very hairy.

Painting a Slipper Orchid Part 2.

Hi, The painting of my Slipper Orchid is progressing well and I have finished the first flower. I have had to stop at this stage as I have a painting of a Fritillary to do for a friend. I added details to the side petals and the main slipper shaped section using a mix of carmine genuine, cadmium yellow light and ultramarine deep. I laid the paint on gently building up the colour in the areas that I wanted to make darker. I softened the edges with a damp brush to blend them into the first washes.

I lifted the highlights out as I applied the washes to create the effect of light hitting the plant. I then painted the centre of the plant using a mix of cadmium yellow light and cadmium orange. I then mixed a botanical grey using a mix of cadmium orange and ultramarine deep with a tiny amount of manganese violet. This makes a very soft grey that is ideal for shading the back petal enhancing the creases and folds. I applied the paint and softened the edges. I also used this colour mix to shade the centre of the flower. The final stage was to add the lovely dots and markings and then the fine hairs. I managed to complete the markings using a mix of manganese violet, carmine genuine and a tiny amount of cadmium yellow light. I did not have time to add the hairs to the flower. I will complete these when I have finished the Fritillary painting.

Hopefully I will be able to complete the painting. Orchid flowers last for a long time.

The Fritillary painting is developing nicely and should be completed in a couple of days. I can then return to my Orchids.

Painting A Slipper Orchid

My Slipper Orchid has bloomed again this year and has the most amazing large flowers. I sketched a couple of compositions but settled for the front and back view of the plant shown below. Please excuse the colour of the paper as I had to enhance the image to show my pencil drawing.

I decided to use Sennelier paints. They have a very creamy feel and I am using them more and more.  I mixed Cadmium lemon yellow with Ultramarine deep to obtain the green for the back petals and a weaker slightly more yellow mix for the outer petals. 

I then mixed Cadmium yellow light with Cadmium yellow orange to apply a wash to centre of the flower and the slipper shaped petal. I then began building up the markings on the outside and the slipper shaped petals with a reddish brown mix made by mixing Carmine genuine, Cadmium yellow light and Ultramarine deep. The outer petals were dampened with a wet brush and left until there was just a slight sheen, before the colour was applied, following the pattern on the petals closely. If a hard edge appeared it was softened with a slightly damp brush and, before the wash completely dried, I removed the highlights with the brush. The slipper shaped petals were again dampened and the colour applied. I lifted the highlights from the right and left side and a little from down the centre. I loved painting these first stages but by the time I had progressed this far the sun was low in the sky and it was time to stop.