Cherry Blossom

cherry blossom ~ pen & wash
© Teresa Newham

A few weeks ago my neighbour's cherry tree started to bloom.  It's at its most interesting before the blossom comes fully out, when there are buds as well as flowers on show, and some leaves starting to emerge:

the inspiration for the painting
© Teresa Newham

Luckily, I was able to get something down on paper while the tree was still covered in blossom. I made the design, inked it over, and laid down a couple of washes in Alizarin Crimson and Permanent Sap Green.  Then I spattered more water onto the paper to create some pale areas:

initial sketch & wet washes
 © Teresa Newham

Once the washes were dry I began to fill in the branches and flowers using the same two colours . . .

the first colours
© Teresa Newham

. . . and picking out the leaves.

painting the leaves . . .
© Teresa Newham

I painted the flowers using the Alizarin Crimson and Titanium White:

. . . and the flowers
© Teresa Newham

Then I double checked the tones by photographing the painting in black and white.  This told me I needed to make the centres of the flowers darker.

checking it out in black and white
© Teresa Newham

Finally I added in the stamens of each individual flower using one of the Elmers paint markers I was given for Christmas, and popped a mount over the top to see how it will look!

how the finished painting will look in a mount
© Teresa Newham