Poppies have been one of my favorite flowers to paint. This is another of the paintings I finished in time for my Autumn Art & Jewelry Show.
The flower symbolism associated with poppies is beauty, magic, consolation, fertility and eternal life. Poppies in Chinese art represent the loyalty and faith between lovers.
I find poppies to be beautiful, glorious in color and oh so graceful. My husband on the other hand did not. He considered them a pest. He didn’t like digging them up to thin them. Oooooo, the dreaded poppy.
When looking through my pics if I can’t find what I am looking for I go online for photos of poppies and if what I find isn’t appropriate or detailed enough I search stock photos and download something that will work. This isn’t something I do often but it is a wonderful resource.
While painting these poppies I decided to paint all those tiny hairs on the stems. One of my house guests was watching and asked if the tiny hairs had a name. Well, I was sure they had a botanical name but I didn’t know it. After searching the internet it seems they may be called sericeous which are “silky” little hairs. This may be more information than you ever wanted. If so, sorry about that, I just get a little curious at times. Do you know if this is correct?
Tiny hairs on poppy stems, "sericeous"
My initial sketch for this painting had more leaves at the bottom but as I was finishing the painting I liked the simplicity of the painting without all the detail of leaves. It felt as though without the leaves more attention would on the blossoms. Do you agree?
"Crimson Grace", Poppies in acrylic, 24" x 48"
Hey, I am a GCSE student. I am currently painting poppies for my coursework. And I wouldn’t mind any tips on paonting poppies.!!
lov Diandra
P.S. I love all your work
I emailed Diandra to see if she had specific questions and here is what we discussed. . .
well….I saw your work online and I would like to ask a few questions;
What type of paint do you use?
I use acrylic paints for my murals but not the acrylics in tubes. For murals I prefer the acrylics that come in 2 oz. containers, the consistency of good quality wall paint. This paint actually has more pigment than wall paint. To make my paints translucent I add a touch of extender or faux finish base. By working in translucent layers layers you can achieve much more depth in detail of your painting. The techniques I used to teach for painting on canvas, wood and metal I have adapted to my mural art. For framed art I use acrylics or watercolor.
How do you draw poppies that are far awy in the distance/
When you want something to appear further away in a painting keep these things in mind.
• The further away the object (poppy or anything else) the less detail is needed.
• Placing another object in front with more detail and larger is another way to create distance in your paintings.
• Colors are more intense in the foreground as well.
And what paint type do you recommend me using?
For mural work I use Delta Ceramcoat. They hold up very well out of doors as well as inside. I have been using them for nearly thirty years.
For watercolors I use mainly Daniel Smith.
Best of luck with your painting,
Thankyou so much.
If it is okay with you, would you mind sending me about how you became interested in art. and since what age you started having an interest in flowers…..etc.
from diandra xx
Your question: how you became interested in art.
To be honest I don’t remember not being interested in art. An aunt told me a few years ago that she visited my home when I was a preschooler and that I had drawn little people and animals on my bedroom walls. However, I don’t remember that.
In the second grade I was reprimanded for drawing the portraits of other classmates instead of doing my school work. In high school my art teacher asked me to do a charcoal rendering of the principal while the rest of the class did other projects. That was the first time I realized that someone thought I could do something other kids my age couldn’t do. That was very encouraging to me.
Your question: since what age you started having an interest in flowers…..etc.
In one of the earliest photos of me, I must have been about two or three, I am holding a stem of hollyhocks which was much taller than me. When I was in the first or second grade my mother let me plant a small garden. I remember watering the seeds and marigolds blooming. My grandmother raised African Violets and I loved looking at them when our family visited her. My interest in painting flowers came about in my mid twenties after opening my first art studio and I began teaching, I taught freehand design on ceramics and porcelain for thirteen years before moving to Colorado. My favorite thing was painting flowers on tall vases.
Thank you for your interest in my story and my art. What is it you enjoy painting? How did you do in your art class?
From Diandra
well………………
i was first inspired from my cousin. she was amazing and I learnt myself really….my parents have an uinterest in art too. it’s not just painting i lov to do all sorts of art.
my school life with art……well I go to St. Philomena’s High school in Carshalton surrey. im in yr 9. When i first went their, i had to draw a picture of a ‘ strong woman’ and i chose Mother Teresa. everone said myone stood out and I feel art is apart of me, my talent and without it i am not myself.
You will find my next questions on your blog ..
from Diandra.