summer flowers

What a talented lady you are, beautiful design, I can just see this on expensive material.

You are very talented Louise, another beautiful design. I read a nice article yesterday about gouache in the 300th issue of Artists & Illustrator (June 2011) by Wendy jacob, called "The joy of gouache", the Royal Watercolour Society says "often overlooked in favour of other mediums, gouache is worth exploring for its own unique properties" She says that it is an undervalued medium that she would recommend for a rewarding and exciting challenge and that it shouldn't be considered a cheats version of watercolour...

Agree with Val - this would make an absolutely fabulous design on fabric! Love the beautiful colors and shapes.

Lovely. Inspired by spring flowers.....

This is lovely and very striking. I agree with the above re a fabric design it certainly would make a good one. Was very interested in Petra's comment just shows we learn something every day.

Many thanks Val, Petra, Seok, Avril and Joy. Petra, This Wendy Jacob is quite right. You should give gouache paint a try. I've always liked the matt effect achievable with it. It's clean, doesn't smell and doesn't give unpredictable results like watercolour. On the down side, you can't get those lovely translucent effects ... Joy, you're right as well :}

I love your way with colour Louise, it shows through in every painting you do,

What a terrific design. It must have taken a long time to execute it with such precision. Beautiful!

Thanks William and Beatrice.

That's cheered me up today! How could anyone feel down when faced with such a vibrant and wonderfully colourful design. Great work, Louise.

Stunning Louise! How on earth can you get those colours out of gouache? The design is beautiful, well balanced and so pleasant to the eye. Well done!

Thanks Thea and Satu... Satu, it is gouache paint honestly ! For once this is a pretty good photo and shows the colours as they really are ! You should try using gouache if you haven't already done so. ! The black outlines and background also help emphasize the depth of colour I think :}

I think you are right, Louise, about the black outlines bringing forwards the lively colours! This is so beautiful!

Hi Louise, I have tried gouache and it works for me in a small scale but I just love acrylics. Agree with black outlines and background, I use them all the time to make the colors sing.

Hi Satu, to be honest, I've never tried painting in acrylics. I'm not really sure why not and I've never tried oils either ! I can't compare. I've done quite large gouache, 60 cm x 80 cm but they have a matt finish to them, nothing like the finish you get with acrylic paint. I've so many ideas for watercolour that I haven't had time to do yet, so I'm not tempted to try oils or acrylics. We all have our favourite mediums which is what it's all about :}

Fantastic painting. Like a close up of one of those exquisite cloisonne vases

Thank you kindly Harry !

Would make a great wallpaper too for this present bold design era. Jx

Many thanks Jean, funnily enough most of my walls are magnolia ! Better to hang pictures on ?!