Adding a background - for the beginner

Backgrounds are often considered as an after thought but it is preferable to consider the backgrounds either at the start of your painting, or near the start.

Working forward from yesterdays post this should take you to the next step.

Incorporating your flower into the background from the start - begin as before with the centre of the flower, attach that first petal, then wet the background to the right of that petal allowing the brush to touch the petal edge and inviting that Magenta to run into the background.
Do the same with the lower petal.
Let it dry, then follow the next stage.

You can begin with this next stage if you have a flower study already complete.
Using a dark green (Midnight Green) and my Classic round brush to create an outer edge of the lower left petal using the tip of the brush, then sweep out some strokes away from the flower. Then using the Golden Leaf brush (which is a large wash brush)  I wet the adjoining area, catching the green paint and allowing it to run into the wet section. I add some turquoise to the wet area to vary the colour. This same technique is repeated at the top of the flower.

This needs to dry.




I use my Pyramid brush for this next stage, you may also use a sword liner or if you have neither of those, your Classic round.

Using the same strong Midnight Green, I suggest squiggly leaf shapes, allowing the brush to dance on the paper. I am not painting actual 'leaves' but instead suggesting leaves.

Whilst this is wet, I use the spritzer in the same way as in yesterdays post. Shielding the flower by cupping my hand and spraying the water onto the wet paint.

This will diffuse the hard edges and create a more subtle foliage effect.

This is the result, suggesting leaves rather than painting any specific leaves. 

Remember this is a background. The original photo used in yesterdays post was our 'reference' point, not to slavishly copy.

I hope you have a go at this, or use the techniques to paint something similar.