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Friday, May 29, 2009

Let's Paint Red Geraniums

Welcome to my little kitchen garden. The red geraniums are in full bloom and Bentley and I would love to take you on a little tour to look for inspiration for a geranium painting for us to paint together.



Make yourself a cup of tea and let's get started.


Finding inspiration . . . .



Here . . .



There . . . .





Everywhere . . . .





Now that we found our inspiration, let's get started painting a very simple little geranium painting.



We are going to paint a single pot of geraniums.


First, I painted an 8X10 canvas a light green and then sketched the pot and geranium. You are welcome to copy my drawing.
Next I painted in the darks. . . note . . . look at the photo of the geranium and paint the darks first. I also painted the right side of the pot darker as this will be the side with the shadow. Paint the flowers a solid color - I used brown and red to get a dark color for my flowers. Later we will lighten up the flowers and develop the petals.

I paint the background as I am painting . . . pulling in the colors of green in the leaves, some of the reds in the flowers and added a little yellow to the top of the background to give a hint of sunshine. I also added the shadows.





I then added light highlights to the leaves and petals as well as to the pot. I also added a flower blossom and painted a few petals to add a little interest to the painting.

The finished painting.
Thank you for visiting. I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your comments.
It means so much to me that you have taken time to leave me a comment and to follow my blog. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see me paint something special.

Have a lovely week. Blessings, Erin


24 comments:

Four Paws and Co said...

Ooohhh, I just love it when you break it down into steps! Beautiful painting too! ☺♥☺ Diane

Barb said...

beautiful photographs and paintings... love the vibrant colors.

Stacey said...

Oh so pretty! Geraniums are my absolute favorite and you portray them so well! Your paintings are happy!

nikkicrumpet said...

I love seeing the transformation of your painting as you work on it. It's soooo cool to see how it changes. I also think the pose with Bentley and the geranium would make a perfect painting!

Anonymous said...

Me too, Erin! They're one of my favorite flowers to paint. You have captured yours beautifully, as always! And the photos are so pretty tooooooo!
It always makes me smile to visit here.
Hugs, Diane

bj said...

O, Erin...you make it sound so simple and yet I KNOW it is not! Well, for YOU, yes...for me...I can't draw a straight line to save my soul.
Thanks for this lovely post...It should be entered in Rhondi's Porch Party that got started a little early tonight but all day tomorrow, too.. I would LOVE for everyone to see your beautiful blog, Bentley and, of course, your magnificent paintings. Pls. think about linking....
hugs, bj

Happy@Home said...

What a beautiful kitchen garden you have. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and can see how you find lots of inspiration there. The photo of Bentley and the geranium is so cute.
Wonderful post!!

The Country Nest said...

Erin,
Just beautiful. I have always loved geraniums, but seem to collect more, thanks to your blog! I love the scented ones to. The Rose and apple the best.
Hugs,
Donna

Fifi Flowers said...

Lovely paining... there is A LOT of inspiration in your photos!

Phyllis said...

I love it, I love it, I love it!!! Thank you so much for the free lessons; I so appreciate them. I'm copying this into a Word document for the future. I haven't touched my paint burshes in ages. (Disclaimer: All I've been doing is painting walls at Gail's shop)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

There is so much inspiration in your garden. You just have the artistic touch in the garden too. Your painting is so pretty. laurie

bj said...

Erin, when I just tried to click on your name over at the Porch Party, it wouldn't pull your blog up. You might check it to see what might be wrong. ...
If I can help, pls. holler....
xo bj

Ruth Welter said...

Hi Erin, I love your red geraniums. Geraniums are my favorite annual and I always have plenty of pots of them in my garden. Yours are so lovely.

ruth

Lisa said...

I love geraniums. They remind me of my Grandmother who always had them growing in her kitchen! Your painting is fabulous!

Rue said...

What a darling painting! I love your kitchen garden almost as much as I love the furry baby that's in it ;)

rue

Deb said...

Gorgeous red geraniums. Your dog Bentley is beautiful! We had a lovely lab named Bentley (you don't hear the name often)who loved smelling red geraniums too :-)

Donna said...

I love how you showed us all the steps, Erin. The painting is so pretty! Your garden is so bright and colorful and cheery! I love red geraniums. Bently looks so cute sniffing the geraniums.

Enjoy the day!
Hugs,
Donna

Anonymous said...

I just love your blog. It is so colorful. I have a garden and looking at yours you have given me lots of ideas.

Willow

Kelee Katillac said...

Hi Erin! It all looks beautiful! The paitings are excellent--Geraniums are not easy to paint..great job..and Bentley...what can we say? love, kelee

bj said...

I just sent you an email to say...I GOT IT...I LOVE IT...
I THANK YOU!!
xo bj

Daisy Cottage said...

Look at sweet Bentley!!
I love that photo of him with the geraniums! Love it!
And of course I love every thing that you have shared AND create... your art is so comforting - gorgeous, but always so heartwarming at the same time.

Love,
Kim

Rhondi said...

Geraniums! My mother loved to paint geraniums, but they were done in watercolors, very soft. I love your bright colors. Once again, thanks for the inspiration.

Marti said...

I happened across your step by step geraniums in the pot and I think I really may be able to paint this! I'm going to try!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your talent!