Once upon day in late spring, I happened upon a wild garden of lupines. I got down as low as I possibly could to take my reference photos. I love this perspective of how these lupins are growing skyward reaching towards heaven.
Inspiration in a ditch
Inspiration can happen literally anywhere. When I was out driving around looking for potential reference photos, I noticed a ditch full of lupines in all colours imaginable growing at the edge of a parking lot. Of course I had to go and take as many reference photos as possible. It didn’t hurt that the sky and the lighting seemed perfect to me.
I have painted lupines in watercolour many times and a few times with acrylics. This is the first time in oil.
The romance of it all
There is something absolutely nostalgic about lupins. They remind me of early summer and of sunshine and the promise of long warm days. And the feeling you get when standing in a field filled with lupines is special, like a heavenly type of experience. You take it all in knowing their season is quite short. Romantic. It‘s funny because I look for the prettiest one – and I usually find it or deveral! Yet they are all so beautiful.
I loved the process of painting this piece. Seeing the areas develop and fill with bright colours. The painting really did take me what seemed like forever to complete. The flowers themself are complex. Their shapes change as they grow and meander up their stalks. Attention to perspective is so important when rendering them.
There were a number of painting sessions in combination with several pauses for drying (so I wouldn’t get my hands in the paint and drag it everywhere it shouldn’t be). There were times when I had to study my work and make decision of where and how to proceed. There were a couple of times I had to walk away and let it rest before I decided to proceed. Then I would jump in and go for it.
I am really pleased with the finished piece.
The work in progress is in the slideshow below.
Lessons Learned
I have an interesting observation based on all the En Plein Air painting i did this year. I love the process. You plan, then scrutinize your intended composition, then mix your paint and paint like heck in hopes of capturing your image in paint. The light changes so fast that is it really challenging to capture the scene. When painting in Plein Air one cannot get caught up with too much detail. I think I really like the speed.
I miss being able to get out as often this time of your because you know cold, wind and rain.
Until next time
May you be safe and healthy