Progress of a Piece - Intelligent Design

Progress of my newest (larger) piece Intelligent Design 

I started off with bright colors, a layer of pattern paper, and covered it in white paint. The pattern paper holds a lot of meaning for me, and I love the graphic elements it brings into my pieces.

 Initial blocking out of the flowers. I like to use a variety of flowers, but am always drawn to peonies, ranunculus, and certain fluffy roses.

Adding first layer of flowers. I used a deep Indanthrene Blue for flower details instead of my usual Payne's Grey. 

detail

Editing. It often holds true for me that if something looks off in a painting, I should try removing something (rather than adding something). 

More developed with geometric layer. 

The final painting

Intelligent Design 

24"x24"

 

Progress of a painting

Here is the progress of my painting Considering Lilies. I started with a canvas that had previously finished painting that was bright and citrusy and just not anything I loved. Luckily I hadn't varnished it, so it was still useable. 

 I covered the entire canvas in a layer of commercial pattern paper and a whitewash. 

I then added a layer of text. 

Next came another base layer of white and the initial layout of the flowers. 

I then edited the initial flower layer, added some more pattern paper, 

laid in some lines, and started adding color. 

I edited a couple more flowers and added in more color. Below is the final piece. This painting is similar to another painting I completed last year, All the Beauty that was Ever Created.

 

Considering Lilies by Jennifer Allevato, 2015

Progress of a painting(s)

"I must have flowers, always, and always." ~ Claude Monet

Progress of a painting

I was recently commissioned to paint a larger floral painting for a client who bought 2 of my smaller ones for her new bedroom makeover. Here is the basic progress of the piece.

I start with a pencil sketch on the wood (the lines often show through on the final piece)

I then refine the sketch with paint. The outline allows me to set the composition immediately, and I can concentrate on color for the rest of the piece without worrying too much about the other elements.

Next I added in the background. If I know what the background will be at the outset, it's best to add it in immediately as all other color decisions will revolve around this choice.

Then I add in whites and greens. I was experimenting with the exact shades I wanted here, wanting depth but, as you'll see in the final photo, the very dark green shown here was lightened a bit.

And the final product! I can't wait to see it in the room with the other pieces!