Fearless Friday, Lavender Bee
One of the prompts for World Watercolor Month
was “favorite scent”
I decided to paint lavender
I use free photo sharing sites {Pixabay, Unsplash}
for ideas and photo sources
I take a screen shot, then make a collage with PicMonkey
and print it out so I can have it by my easel
I found this clip art drawing of a bee
which was a really helpful reference
I began by sketching the bee, shape by shape
Breaking the subject down shape by shape
makes drawing just about anything possible
Once I had the bee drawn, I quickly added shapes for the lavender
I began to paint by doing the top petals
I wanted the petals in place so I could
tuck the bee behind and on top of them
I used washes of Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna for the bee
and Windsor Violet and Imperial Purple for the lavender petals
Sepia was applied for the stripes and hind leg
Final details were added with a small liner brush and pen
with shades of sepia and New Gamboge
Once the bee was finished I quickly painted the rest of the lavender
I wanted the bee to be the main focus
so it got the most detail
I indicated more lavender, receding around the main stem
with light dabs of color with a large round wet brush
Final touches with a fine ink liner
brings the bee and the lavender forward to catch your eye
Lavender Bee, 9″ x 12″ watercolor and ink on 140 lb. cold pressed paper
If you’d ever like to share your paintings or creations,
please let me know and I will add them to a Fearless Friday post
for everyone to enjoy!
Happy drawing, painting, creating!
Be Fearless!
🐝 🎨 🌸
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Love Your Creativity Over the Moon
Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate Your Story,
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Make it Pretty Monday Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl
Turn About Tuesday Full Plate Thursday Centerpiece Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things Creatively Crafty Creative Cumpulsions
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Love the simplicity of this painting, even though all that detail had to be nerve-racking. Lovely color choice and i felt the gentle motion you created with the slanted blades of grass…!
Jenna, I love this! I have a pot of lavender in my garden and the bees are always buzzing around it. Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you Pam, and same to you!
The picture is wonderful. You always break the details down and make it seem so doable. I also liked how you included a reminder that the main focus of the picture (the bee) should be done in more detail than the lavender.
Thank you Sheryl, much appreciated!
Well done! I can almost hear his buzzing! 😉
thanks Cyndi 🐝
Oh this is so lovely. I can almost smell the lavender……….
Aw, thanks Emily, it was fun to paint!
The whole thing is beautiful Penny, as I’m wild for lavender, but your bee is especially intricate and beautifully created. Bravo!
Thanks Jeanie, the bee was fun 🐝
I mean’t, Jenna, not Penny! I had just finished writing an email to a Penny! Duh.
😂 no problem!
Your beautiful picture of lavender (a favorite) and the bee (not so favorite, but needed) brought back memories of our home in Michoacan, Mexico. When we first moved there, the backyard was a minefield of holes waiting to trip you up. During certain times the tusas (moles) were very active, and we were told to plant lavanda (lavender) to deter them. We (with our requisite gardener) planted lots, they grew well, and we enjoyed them. They did not eliminate the moles, but they did help.
Your yard of lavender must have been beautiful and oh so fragrant! It is amazing how Mother Nature works…