Fearless Friday, Apricot Branch

I made a quick trip to the city this week
{up and back in 44 hours!}
I took care of top priorities, like hair, skin
and a social distance happy hour on the patio with BFFs
Things almost felt like normal…
Anyhooooo…
No time for painting the past few days
but I did take photographs while I was painting this apricot branch
for the May Doodlewash challenge last week
My reference photo is from Unsplash
I first positioned the apricots with a light wash
Then built up their colors with layers of different color washes
Next came the leaves
I always keep my color chart handy for reference
Then the color was deepened and the stem was indicated
The other three were finished adding layers of more color
and leaving a bit of white paper showing for highlights
Branches painted in
Darkening leaves
I decided to make the background ultramarine blue to really make the apricots pop
{blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, making it orange’s complementary color}
I finished with a bright wet in wet shadow and ink outlines
“Apricot Branch” 9″ x 12″ watercolor on 140 lb. Cold Pressed paper
Happy Painting!
Be Fearless!
🍑 🎨 🍑
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Love Your Creativity What’s for Dinner?
Between Naps on the Porch, Make it Pretty Monday
Turn About Tuesday Celebrate Your Story, You’re the Star
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Full Plate Thursday
Jenna, that was a quick trip to the city for sure. I went to the salon last week and had a cut and color, it sure made me feel and look better.
I love the apricot watercolor, the blue background really makes the apricot branch stand out! Happy Friday!
Thanks Pam, it’s amazing what a haircut can do 💇🏼♀️
I always love how well you catch the light! Very nice, Jenna.
Thank you Jeanie!
Love the apricot branch Jenna, lovely. I was thinking about you and coming back to the city. Glad you got your appointments out of the way and enjoyed a happy hour on the patio, sounds wonderful. I know you are looking forward to the holiday weekend. Have a great time……….
Thank you Emily, it really was nice to see friends in person, and do a few semi-normal things. It is crazy on the coast, boats everywhere!
So glad you got time with your BFFs! Lovely peach Doodlewash. (Cool name!)
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thanks Michelle!
Beautiful, Jenna!! 😊💙 Great background color, really makes things pop!
Thanks Patty Anne, I’m trying to do some unexpected things to make my paintings more exciting 🙂
I love the way you use layers of color to add depth to the fruit.
thank you Linda
Delicious painting, and I loved the explanations of why you were doing things. Sometimes I think painters/artists try to recreate reality instead of interpreting reality. We have cameras for that—i love your interpretation…and the blue background is perfect and fresh!
Thanks so much, doing a painting is always like doing a science experiment!
Love seeing you artistic rendering of the apricots Jenna! I’m counting down the days until Friday when my hair can be cut and colored…nails and toes will be a couple of weeks later. I need to wear gloves and closed toe shoes until then 🙂
thanks Mary, enjoy your day at the salon, life changing…💇🏼♀️😂