Begin by making an outline drawing of three lavender heads and stems using a 3B pencil.

1. Mix ultramarine blue with just a little alizarin crimson to make a purple-blue colour for the lavender flowers.

2. Begin by painting the large bloom head in the centre using a fully loaded No. 7 sable. Using a reasonably strong mix here will help the large head to dominate the trio.

3. With the point of the brush, paint the individual blooms on the outer edge of the head, filling in the centre, but leaving a few patches of unpainted white paper. This will give sparkle to the blooms in the centre

1. Use the same mix and colours for both the smaller blooms, but adding a little more water to lighten the colour.

2. Paint the stems with a mix of cadmium lemon and ultramarine blue using a No. 6 sable.

3. Leave to dry.

1. Mix the same colours – ultramarine and alizarin crimson – but using less water and more paint.

2. Paint the darker areas under the individual blooms on the left, leaving most of the underpainting untouched.

3. In the centre, add a few more darker areas, leaving half the underpainting showing and, on the right, just a small number of unpainted areas.

3. Finally, use a strong mix of the same two colours on a few areas on the right and the underside where the blooms meet the stems.

The finished study

1. Use the same techniques to paint the two smaller heads using lighter lighter mixes.

2. Add darker greens – mixed from cadmium yellow and ultramarine – to the right-hand side of the stems.

Note that the large head has the stronger colour, tone and slightly more detail while the two smaller heads are weaker in colour and tone.

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This demonstration is taken from a two-part painting project in the October and November 2021 issues of Leisure Painter. Enjoy endless inspiration with access to past and present issues of both The Artist and Leisure Painter magazines, plus exclusive video demos, tutorials and more, with our Studio Membership! Discover how you can join today.