Category Archives: Still-life Watercolor
A Few Wildflowers From the Field
I like to paint the things that are around me and these are typical Mediterranean wildflowers that grow in a field near my home in Madrid, Spain.
Glasswork with Early February Almond Blossoms Watercolor
Spring flowers are blooming all around!
I took a few notes about the process. It’s really fun to paint with watercolors. I’m using 640 gsm.
I start out with a real model. Glass objects with flowers is my all time favorite thing to paint. I like color, a lot.
I work around the paper trying to give the same importance to everything in the foreground and the background.
When I finish, I carefully take the tape off and let it dry. Then I put the paper under a stack of books to flatten it. It looks so much nicer when it’s flattened.
I like to take a picture of the watercolor and the model together.
I also take a picture of the watercolor in natural light or in full shade to show the true colors.
These two watercolors go very well together.
Thank you for taking the time. Enjoy the spring,
Victoria
Happy Valentine’s Day 2021
Have a beautiful day everybody.
Poppies and Daisies in Pickle Jar 2019
In the spring I like to paint the wild flowers since they are so colorful and my favorite painting theme.
I started off with a grid and a light drawing, then I started putting in the poppies.
Since I’m painting from life, I put in the poppies first before they wilt.
The next step I take is painting all over the paper since all the shapes and colors influence each other.
Then I start putting in other flowers, not forgetting about the equally important background which includes the glass pickle jar.
Here I am almost finished. Just putting in the finishing touches. Not too many.
The watercolor is almost finished here. I paint what I see and leave a lot of the white of the paper.
Here it is finished. Poppies and Daisies in Pickle Jar 2019 Watercolor on Arches 300gsm 19×28 cm – 7.5×11 in
This year the wild flower season was brief. Less rain, less flowers…
My Watercolor Exhibition Experience at Arte Studio in Madrid May-June 2017
I realised that I had to focus. First I got a body of watercolors together 2014 to 2016.
Here’s a short clip of the watercolors in the show and a few pictures.
Red Poppies with Wild Flowers in Glass Jar April 2015
Red Roses in Blue Vase 2015
A street view of the Paseo del Prado in August 2016
Three Glass Bottles with Pear 2014
When I got together around 50 watercolors, I started matting them.
Summer Melon with Red Bottle 2016 – Watercolor on Arches 640 GMS – 20 x 16 inch ( 50.8 x 40.6 cm) – Swiss Clip Frameless Frame with Plexi-glass Ready to Hang
This is the style I used for presentation – A beige mat with plexi-glass and swiss clips.
Once it was all set up, the show looked really nice. I Saw a lot of family and friends I hadn’t seen for a long time as well as meeting new friends.
Flor, Victoria and Cani
Although it was very hard work, it was something I wanted to do and I’m glad it happened.
The light in Madrid, Spain is always inspiring.
White Almond Blossoms in Talavera Vase Watercolor March 2017
This spring I was only able to paint one watercolor of the white almond blossoms. They bloomed, it rained, it was windy and they were gone.
These are some of the steps taken.
I started out by putting the vase and the flowers on the paper first.
Then I start working around the paper putting in the colors and shapes I see.
Here I start looking for contrast.
Looking for depth.
Looking for atmosphere too.
Line & Wash of September Roses 2016
September Roses and Silk Scarf 2016 on Arches 300 gsm
I thought that watercolor season was over since we’re already in September, but not yet. There are a bunch of orange roses blooming on the terrace.
Sketch with grid
Pencil on Arches 300 gsm
Line and Wash
September Roses with Silk Scarf 2016
Yellow Melon with Red Bottle Summer 2016
Melon with Red Bottle and California Wild Flowers Summer 2016
When I saw this melon come into the room, I just knew I had to paint it.
Yellow Melon with Red Bottle and California Wild Flowers Summer 2016
The most interesting thing about this yellow melon was the way it reflected color. I was interested in capturing the reflection.
California Wild Flowers in Red Bottle with Summer Melon 2016
Here it is finished.
White Rose with Crystal Vase Spring 2016
White Rose with Crystal Vase Spring 2016
White Rose
I decided to develop the rose thinking it was going to wilt too fast.
White Rose with Crystal Vase
Then I started drawing the crystal vase with a paintbrush, the same way I drew the rose.
Crystal Vase with White Rose
Then I started developing the crystal vase trying to give it the same attention as I did to the rose.
White Rose with Crystal Vase and Books Spring 2016
The books and the crystal vase are competing too much. Thinking back, I should have stopped in the previous step or developed the books more.
