Cactus Flowers and their spines, in Aquarelle

For our latest sessions I brought wonderful examples of Cactus flowers. They are so well-defined, colourful and often contrasting with the sharp spines of the plants they are growing on. Most of the aquarellistas found it interesting to try them out and some of them just couldn't get enough! And of course there were other interesting projects going on! Have a look below and enjoy the colours and shapes...
 

Martine started an ambitious one with the best red colours and lots of spines! She solved that problem with a mix of masking fluid and water to get the really thin lines...

Also thin masking fluid for Denise, who couldn't get enough of the subject and she did a truly masterful job on not two but three versions!

This is my favourite. It reminds me of Denise, swirling and colourful!

Sylvia was not keen on her cactus flower painting, but adding the background with dark purple, Payne's grey & lots of salt and then removing the tape to have a neat white border, the rest of the group absolutely loved it

 

Anna Karin chose a non-cactus flower and really spent time to find the perfect red for her poppy! This is a work in progress yet it already looks stunning.



Ingrid finished the excellent watercolour landscape below,and then started a fabulous blue flower and finished that too! She even sketched a third one - but you will have to wait for that until next week...



 Laura was also productive, she finished her cupcakes, they look so good now! And then re-started the Pike painting, good that she did that because this time it worked out perfectly. It is a truly wonderful watercolour!

Here is Sandra's experiment with watercolours on an 'all paints' canvas that did not accept watercolour paint (grrr). So she then added a layer of transparent gesso, that instantly began to mix with the watercolours (grrr).

Yet in the end it all worked out and this WIP of a Siren will no doubt become another fab work of art.

Brenda has not been painting for almost half a year but it looks like the 'Why do you think I ate the chocolate' - painting of her nephew will be great and very funny! Watch this space for the next stages...

And last but not least, two paintings by Judith. She hasn't been for quite a while for good (sportive) reasons but is truly missed by me and others and I hope she will return later in the year, As you can see, even after a long absence her ability to express things like the eternal flow of love (that's what I see) or the interaction between the earth and the sun, is still there! Such a pleasure for all of us to see this happen...