Sunday, 14 April 2013

Yellow Tulips

Green and yellow make......

GGrrrrrHHHYellow..

This weeks challenge in The Artists Playroom  is to paint using only two colours and name the combination after them.
I thought I better get on and finish it today as time is short these days.

Things did not go entirely well. I decided that I needed to paint Daffodils, because they are yellow and green, the bad spring has meant my garden is a bit lacking in them so I went off to the supermarket, they only had yellow tulips.
* Mistake number one I bought the tulips ( I don't like tulips)
* Mistake number two I chose yellow when I actually don't really like yellow.
 However I set to work and began to paint, never one to be put off by a vase of tulips.



OK, but a little boring

I used watercolours, but wasn't happy as I soon began to realise that the green and yellow were too similar to get any real contrast. I really wanted a blue.... but sticking to the two colour rules carried on.

* Mistake number three, yellow and green are too similar to get any real contrast.
'Conte crayons' I thought 'That may redeem the situation'







It didn't.....I heard a radio program a few weeks ago in which the Scottish landscape artist James Hawkins was interviewed. In it he said all his paintings went through a bit of a crisis.. a sort of 'how can I resolve this problem phase' He said it was part of the creative process, well I thought,' I must carry on!'



At this stage I think I threw everything but the kitchen sink at it in an endeavour to liven things up!
 Im also linking this post up to Inspiration Avenue click here to pay them a visit.



 At the end of the day I still don't like it, but I'm sure I have learnt something, but at this moment in time the only lesson I can think of is  GRrrrhhYelllllow... :)

Links to Paint party friday
 Artists playroom
Inspiration Avenue


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54 comments:

  1. Unknown14 April 2013 at 19:24

    I really like it, it's lively and fun. I think the conte crayons did the trick!! But, then I love tulips and yellow is my favorite color!!

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  2. Paper rainbow14 April 2013 at 20:01

    Awwh thank you Cat. I don't want to be too down on Yellow or tulips. I just don't seem to connect with yellow as much as I do with blues, greens and reds. It is strange how and why our colour preference is formed. Tulips are very structural flowers and I prefer softer forms with strong scents. The fact you like my tulips has cheered me up very much, :) BiG SmIle

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  3. lynne h14 April 2013 at 20:31

    oh, i love it, just love it... the conte crayons really made it sing.

    i also love yellow and tulips... : )

    xoxo

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  4. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 21:20

    In the end, you have a perfectly lovely piece of art. I hope you will allow yourself to be pleased with it. xx

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    1. Paper rainbow14 April 2013 at 22:28

      Thank you, I am enjoying Yellow and tulips better already because of your lovely comment.

      Delete
  5. Neesie14 April 2013 at 23:13

    Good for you for carrying on even though you didn't like it. I think it looks so springy and vibrant.
    Sometimes the journey is the main thing and not the destination...but in this case you have the both. Congrats! ;)

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    1. Paper rainbow18 April 2013 at 22:16

      Thanks Nessie, as the week has gone on I have grown slightly fonder of the tulips, helped by such great comments.

      Delete
  6. Roberta Warshaw14 April 2013 at 23:50

    I love to paint tulips when they are old and falling apart. That is when things get exciting for me.

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    Replies
    1. Paper rainbow15 April 2013 at 20:35

      I will do exactly that Roberta! I think when they open up a bit the shapes are much more interesting to draw.

      Delete
  7. Jez15 April 2013 at 03:43

    Those tulips certainly fought back, but you definitely won the battle. I actually like the painting at each stage, and would have given up long before, but I agree that it was worth carrying on. You have produced a very lively painting that speaks of spring, and is so much better than the word grellow would suggest! It's so interesting to watch a painting go through the various stages.

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  8. Anonymous15 April 2013 at 04:37

    All I can say is BEAUTIFUL!
    Thanks for sharing the journey.
    Grandma Nancy Sapp

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  9. Meihsia Liu15 April 2013 at 04:57

    Wow..I love your beautiful watercolor painting. The colors are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing. ^_^

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    Replies
    1. Paper rainbow18 April 2013 at 22:15

      Thank you so much for your blog visit and lovely comments on my yellow tulips.

      Delete
  10. Janine15 April 2013 at 14:38

    Lovely work!

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  11. TwinkleToes2day15 April 2013 at 16:09

    I think this is wonderful. I hope that one say I can be dissatisfied with something so wonderful :0) Mo

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  12. Maria Medeiros16 April 2013 at 04:01

    Gosh absolutely beautiful! so delightful and beautiful!!!!!!! makes me happy!

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  13. irene17 April 2013 at 03:03

    i read your blog smiling and nodding my head at the same time. we are experimenting with so many of the same techniques and products- gelli plate, conte crayons, and i just used my citrasolve papers in a piece today! this is what i love about blogs~~ the distance disappears and connections are made. thank you for the smile and for visiting my blog.

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  14. bohemiannie! art17 April 2013 at 11:41

    LOL! Well...I say GRRRRRRRReat! I love the name you gave to this extremely delightful painting. And you get an A+ for perseverance.

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    1. Paper rainbow18 April 2013 at 22:13

      Thank you Annie, perseverance is my middle name :)

      Delete
  15. Head Krazy18 April 2013 at 13:19

    Tee teehee, this made mr giggle, I don't enjoy the colour yellow either, but I quite enjoy your painting, it really is quite lovely! I hope it grows on you!

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  16. Diane18 April 2013 at 22:35

    I think it turned out great! Wonderful color! Love seeing your process. There is usually a way to remedy a work when you're not happy with it. Thanks for the kind comment at my blog today!

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  17. Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA18 April 2013 at 23:06

    Perseverance sure paid off for you, my friend. I always teach my students to think of "mistakes" as challenges to overcome, and your amazing painting is the perfect example. Blessings!

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  18. Deanna19 April 2013 at 00:49

    It's extremely hard to use a limited color palette, especially when the colors are so similar in tone but you've done a lovely job.

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  19. Terri Corona19 April 2013 at 01:16

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog, I'm so glad you did because now I've found yours! I only had time to look through a few posts, but that was enough to make me excited to come back and look through more.

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  20. minnemie19 April 2013 at 01:48

    Well, you ended up with quite an amazing piece with textures to drool about! All that GruHHHintng and GrowHHHHling was totally worth the end result:-)

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    1. Paper rainbow19 April 2013 at 07:57

      Thank you so much! I guess some things are worth putting up a fight for! :)

      Delete
  21. Giggles19 April 2013 at 08:32

    Well I LOVE this piece so much, the green and yellow together is fabulous. To tell the truth I was like you and didn't really like tulips either especially yellow ones...but it's my daughters favorite flower and I have come to LOVE them....go figure... I really appreciate them now and your painting is just rich with beauty!! Too bad you don't love it.... It really is gorgeous!! I know I'm not alone!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  22. sharon19 April 2013 at 09:16

    Love the finished piece, wonderful layers and textures.

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  23. ann @ studiohyde19 April 2013 at 10:15

    Love the colours in this very cheerful painting :) Like the sound of those conte crayons!

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  24. denthe19 April 2013 at 10:15

    I think it turned out really well in the end! But then I love tulips and I love yellow ... ;-)

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  25. www.dorissdaughter.com19 April 2013 at 10:19

    Limited palettes can be difficult to work with but I think you have done a wonderful job. I like it a lot!

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  26. PaintingWrite19 April 2013 at 13:55

    Ha this is a great post! I love tulips they're my favourite flower. What a shame spring has been so topsy turvy you had to go buy flowers instead of using the daffodils which should have been in your garden. Anyway, I like all the versions of this - it was delicate in watercolour and it's lovely and vibrant in conte crayon. it's funny you can almost see your frustration and dislike of the colour combo in the strokes and stripes of colour in the last photo!

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  27. froebelsternchen19 April 2013 at 14:39

    Oh my gosh!
    I really love tulips and yours are wonderful!
    FROEBELSTERNCHEN FROM AUSTRIA

    HAPPY PPF!


    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY
    We would love to welcome you aboard! ;)

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  28. Nordljus19 April 2013 at 15:09

    I'm not a great fan of yellow, and especially of yellow flowers, but I really like how your painting turned out! The yellow's a nice warm shade, and I think it works very well with the fresh greens, and I like the composition.

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  29. Anonymous19 April 2013 at 16:20

    Very elegant and lovely tulips ~ Wow! and such great texture too ^_^

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  30. Anonymous19 April 2013 at 17:57

    GRrrrhhYelllllow... :) Absolutely marvelous....Happy PPF xox

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  31. Kim Prowse19 April 2013 at 18:16

    Sometimes our inner critic screams at us. I adore your watercolour of the daffs, the colours and the moving composition. they look like they are being blown by a gentle wind. Very pretty and feminine.

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  32. Dianne19 April 2013 at 18:28

    well, I think it's terrific...even if you don't like yellow! perhaps the 'problem' is the parameters of only using two colors? I would think one needs three at least! but your description of 'everything but the kitchen sink' made me smile, and you ended up with great texture! happy PPF!

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  33. Rita19 April 2013 at 18:43

    I like the way it turned out in the end. :)

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  34. Ivy19 April 2013 at 20:07

    so beautiful! HPPF!

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  35. Debbie19 April 2013 at 20:41

    wow, i really love this! the extra work with the crayons really paid off!(i'm assuming they are watercolor crayons?) Happy PPF!

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    Replies
    1. Paper rainbow20 April 2013 at 16:36

      Thanks Debbie, conte crayons are more pastel like than crayons, chalky, you can blend them with your finger, water or baby wipes as I sometimes do.

      Delete
  36. Victoria19 April 2013 at 21:51

    So very beautiful..I love florals..yours are dazzling..and unique and uplifting and full of wonderful vibrant harmonies..this piece feels like it is dancing..and I love that!
    fabulous
    Victoria
    Happy PPF

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  37. Ilona Heimböckel19 April 2013 at 22:10

    Well you could have chosen another combination couldn't you? ;-) I think your tulips look rather yellow - haha just kidding. I think they are wonderful! And I like the background you created. You could have created more contrast by making the green darker and cooler and the yellow, lighter eventually with a hint of red? or was it a primary/secondary colour-contest?
    Enjoy your freedom at last! Throw out the wonderful tulips and cry yawp! Lol

    Happy PPF

    Ilona

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    Replies
    1. Paper rainbow20 April 2013 at 16:40

      Thanks Ilona, I get what you mean as to why did I choose yellow. I think It was because I wanted a challenge, it is to easy to stay within our comfort zone, I used a very limited palette, I did try a cooler green but it didn't work, I liked to keep the whole thing warmer. I will enjoy my freedom, and perhaps learn to use colours I normally ignore :)

      Delete
  38. bellefrogworks20 April 2013 at 15:44

    You ended up with a beautiful, lively still life. Come back and look at it a week or a month from now. You are too close to the process to see the beauty. HPPF

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  39. PiaRom20 April 2013 at 17:24

    I really love your painting and the limited colors are so calming! Your yummy texture gives it a great punsh...so I found it very well balanced and interisting the same time ♥ Conny
    http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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  40. Unknown20 April 2013 at 22:44

    Beautiful and inspiring. Amazing colours! Thank you for sharing!

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  41. poppylocke21 April 2013 at 00:10

    I think you did an amazing job - really vibrant, sunny and with wonderful texture!

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  42. DVArtist21 April 2013 at 02:53

    I like very much to see how you worked it all out. Your painting is awesome!!!
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  43. Annabelle21 April 2013 at 04:18

    It is alive with brilliant colour and delicate flow.
    It announces Spring so I think it achieves it's magic : ) I like it very much !

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  44. Tracey FK21 April 2013 at 08:18

    All my painting go through an ugly child phase but i think you are being a bit harsh as I think this is pretty awesome... when in doubt I throw more contrast at something... it is my cure all.... but i think this works pretty well as it is... maybe it is the frustration you are seeing rather than the work...xx

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  45. Craftymoose Crafts21 April 2013 at 19:04

    Stopped by from IA. I think your tulips came out wonderful! Good for you for sticking with the painting.

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  46. Lou Anne Hazel23 April 2013 at 03:31

    Your tulips are absolutely beautiful but your painting is spectacular. All I can say is "Wow!" And I liked it before you added the conte touches. I'm so glad you shared it with us at IA.

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