Painting A Chrysanthemum step-by-step
by Bev Wells

STEP ONE

Mix  a nice Rusty Peach Colour from Perm Alizarin Crimson + Gold Ochre + and a small amount of Ultramarine Mix plenty up as you will need a lot -we do not want to run out of colour-   mix a tone stronger than the  picture on your left - now add water to give you a tint - Some of the tips can be left white but the petals that have a curl need a tone -  as this is your curl ! The small petals can be painted - Wet On Dry- using two brushes one for the pigment and one with clear water to pull the  paint  out into the lighter area    The larger petals can be painted Wet- In- Wet   wet the petal first then drop your colour into the darker area letting it flow into the lighter area . 

STEP TWO

Now using a darker tone paint the petals as you did before - look at the example on your left -Do not paint the curls -  as you see one- wet the whole petal but  (Not The Curl) then drop your pigment behind the curl ! to show it up 

Don't loose all of your first wash

Now using your same original mix of - Perm Alizarin Crimson + Gold Ochre +Ultramarine Now add Burnt Sienna to this mix to really make it richer 

As you will see on the examples on your left we are only painting the darker areas now the lighter areas are already done 

Still save the very dark for your next step

Now looking at the  example on your left get ready to punch those dark areas -  You can see how the petals show up against each other dark against light

When you have done this make sure all the petals are dry  - then paint wet - on -dry  some veins in the dark petals - just a few 

If they look a little harsh when dry just run a clear water wash over them this will soften the lines 

FINAL STEPS

Now Its time for the Background -Sometimes I paint the background first -sometimes last -sometimes a bit of both- I  have used my Ultramarine plus a small amount of my flower colour  to neutralize it -keeping the Harmony in the painting.

Wet the background first then drop in your chosen colour ( you can put any colour in it doesn't have to be the same as mine it is your painting)

I hope you have enjoyed painting along with me.

Happy Painting Bev