Painting an Indian Blanket in Watercolor
Hey friends, I am glad you stopped by. I wanted to share some of the process and musings behind this painting of Indian Blanket Flowers.
I started this painting while pregnant with our third baby, but didn't finish it until a few months after he was born. For this painting I focused on each flower by itself then moving on to the next one. That isn't the usual process that I follow. Typically I will start with the lightest hue first then work my way through to the darkest hue. Then I bounce around adjusting areas, adding detail, until I feel like the painting is complete.
Supplies Used
The paints that I use are Daniel Smith Watercolors. These are colors I used in various mixes to paint these Indian Blanket Flowers.
- Payne's Grey
- Moonglow
- Sepia
- Mayan Orange
- Carmine
- Quinacridone Rose
- Quinacridone Burnt Orange
- Indian Yellow
- Lemon Yellow
- Sap Green
I also used Fabriano Artistico 100% Cotton Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper. The size is 10 by 14 inches.
I enjoy the process of adding detail and shadows to create variation in the painting. This process for me is one that I relax into. When I first started this just getting started in between phase of a painting was disturbing. It was frustrating. It was hard to sit with. I would want to jump to end of the painting and have a finished piece of art.
You can't do that though. I can't start a painting then jump to the end. I have to go through the steps, through the process. Perserverance is something that I had to learn in art. Isn't life the same way sometimes. We get used to the microwave version of life and then when something requires us to be gritty and stick with it we are thrown for a loop.
A fininshed gaillardia flower and then the beginning of the next flower. Moving methodically from flower to flower in this painting was a fun challenge.
Each flower comes together in its own time. Balancing details, highlights, and shadows.
Gaillardia is the name for Indian Blanket Flowers. They are absolutely my favorite flower. The firey red and bright yellow dots the prairie with vibrant color. They announce that spring has come and summer is near. Their color lasts through the hottest time of the year. They bloom in hard circumstances. They are symbolic. Resilience is one the strengths that they are synonymous with.
Two flowers done and the painting is starting to come together.
Our third baby was born shortly after I started the third flower so this painting sat at my art desk for a few months before getting back to finishing it up.
At this point giving up wasn't an option in this painting. After putting in all of that work to get three flowers finished, I wasn't about to put this in a drawer to forget about it. It's also kind of strange looking at the not quite done yet painting. Anticipating what the final piece will be while looking at a flower that is obiviously not done.
Almost to the end but not quite there yet. Still a little bit of adjusting to do to bring the piece together.
We made it. We made it to the end. A finished gaillardia arrangement. A finished watercolor painting.
The Indian Blanket is a symbol of hope, bravery, joy, and resilience.
The highlights stand out by having shadows next to them. The details came out one stroke at a time. It was a labor of love.
I have learned beautiful life lessons through painting. Friend, I hope you also learn to stay gritty and stick with the things that are challenging to you. Perservere and see beautiful things bloom in their own time.
Art reflects life back to those who are willing to see with more than their eyes but their heart as well.
Thanks for reading along friends. See y'all around soon.
Love,
Danielle