Poppy Heads

• Subject: Dried flower heads
• Medium:Watercolour
• Completion Date: September 23, 2012
• Completion Time: 20 hours
• Dimensions: 9'' X 24''
• Background: Evening sky

This portrait was inspired after receiving a bunch of dried poppies from a friend’s garden.  I decided to use a heavy handmade unbleached watercolour paper which contained irregular flecks with an uneven surface.  Firstly I soaked the paper in water to soften it and then carefully tore the edges both vertically and horizontally to create a worn effect.  Using washes of watercolour I built up the painting, gradually strengthening the intensity and using techniques such as clingfilm, masking fluid and salt to create varied shape formations within the background.  Watercolour pencils were used to tease patterns in the leaves among the shadows, then finally gouache was used to add highlights in detailed areas.

The mount was a collection of flower names that my daughter kindly designed.