LILAC LEAVES IN AUTUMN by SHELLEY WARING

Beautiful colours.

could you write something about how you began the whole process of painting this in watercolour - including the types of colours, the paper and size. Assume you were telling it to a new student of yours --- me. many thanks

thankyou sunil for taking such an interest in my painting. i first did an outline of the leaf shape in pencil. I match up the colours by close observation. wet the shape and wait for the shine to go then start adding paint matching as close as you can to the leaf you are studying. lift out any highlights you need and blend edges so there are no hard edges, leave to dry. Start adding the next layer of tone areas to begin defining shape , soften all edges.dry again. one more layer for more definition then begin adding detail , e.g. the veins and around any holes in the leaf. i think you have to paint until you are happy with what you have painted . How much detail you add is your own choice . i dont think you should paint so it is photo- like , after all it is a watercolour ! I hope this helps you try painting detail , dont paint too big , these leaves were life size. Its much easier to start small. happy painting.