Radiant Orchid

Radiant Orchid Iris ©VivianCooper2014

Ok so it's actually an Iris and not an Orchid.

According to Pantone, the color for 2014 is Radiant Orchid. I saw this beautiful Iris on a trip to The Biltmore Estates. I thought of the Pantone color of the year immediately when I saw the iris and decided to capture the vibrant purple with it's undertones of pink and fuchsia.

sketch on 300lb Arches watercolor paper

Sketched it out and made sure to draw in the areas that would be highlighted.

Liquid mask applied

All of the areas I want to remain white I mask with liquid masking fluid. Then I let it dry.

First washes

I mixed French Ultramarine Blue and Quinacridone Rose and lots of water to create the wash.

Paint the edges

Then added another layer to the areas that will be darker. Included more Q.Rose in the wash.

Laying in the shadows.

 

In the areas to remain lighter I took a dry paper towel and blotted out some color. In the areas to be shadowed I added a glaze of French Ultramarine Blue.

Working around the flower

 

As I work on the flower, I put in more F. Ultramarine in the areas in shadow and for the areas facing the sun and "warmer", I add more Q. Rose.

Shadows across the petals

 

For the shadow across the white part of the  petal use plenty of water and a touch of neutral tint.

Begin removing the mask

 

At this point I begin to remove the liquid mask to reveal the dotted pattern on the edge of the petals.

Start adding details and background

 

For the greens I mixed Lemon Yellow and Sap Green and Hookers Green with Cadmium Yellow.

At this point all of my masking has been removed. The very dark greens in the background really makes the iris "pop

 

Reference photo

Here is the painting with the reference photo, my version of Radiant Orchid.