plate no. 2778
Flowering iris
Ohara Koson, 1934
suitable for beginners
This painting helps students practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations in greens and purples, and also focuses on creating a sense of depth through layering and careful placement of shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the irises and leaves, paying attention to their overlapping arrangement.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of the background color (pale yellow/beige).
- step 03
Begin painting the leaves with a base green color, varying the shades slightly.
- step 04
Add darker greens and blues to the leaves to create depth and shadow.
- step 05
Paint the irises with a base purple color, noting the subtle variations in tone.
- step 06
Add darker purples and blues to the irises to define the petals and create dimension.
- step 07
Add the yellow details to the flower centers.
- step 08
Refine the edges and details of the leaves and flowers.
color palette
primary · indigo · viridian · yellow ochre
secondary · ivory · ultramarine
Mix indigo with white for lighter purples; viridian with yellow ochre for various greens; add ultramarine to indigo for deeper purples.
techniques
- ·flat wash
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·shape definition
common pitfalls
- →Using too much water and losing color intensity
- →Not varying the greens and purples enough, resulting in a flat image
- →Overworking the details before establishing the base colors
- →Incorrectly placing the shapes, leading to a distorted composition
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 round brush
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brands of watercolor paints to find your preferred consistency and pigment intensity.
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