1st painting

Tried my first painting of a sunflower in watercolour. I wanted to try using yellow on yellow hoping to achieve a cheerful look. Right now it looks a little plain with the overused yellow, wondering if I should try to do digital painting instead so I'd have better control of the colours. Or should I try another illustrative style to make the composition more interesting. I'm intending to do other angles to portray other qualities of the flower so watch out for this space!

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Previously in my presentation I talked about doing a diary documenting the day to day deterioration of the flower, how I felt about the flower dying, experiences of the day spent with the dying flower. I figured it could get a little corny and lacking content unique to the sunflower if it comes too much of my own personal thoughts. Moreover, this is about the sunflower and not me and the sunflower. So this week, I'm intending to go more into what of the sunflower that I want the world to remember.

I think there's an interesting contrast between the "fact" that the sunflower is dying and the positive connotations of the sunflower. The sunflower is a cheerful flower, it grows towards the sun, it grows straight up, it symbolises admiration, devotion, and loyalty. So what of the contrast can I take to visualise this conflicting contrast?

A good researched example would be Van Gogh's series of sunflowers. Painted yellow on yellow, it is a painting that vibrantly expressed the life of the sunflowers. There are those of in bloom, and some withering all in this one vase. I thought it was interesting how the flowers look lively and realistic with different embodiments of life stages using just mainly yellow.

Choosing a flower

So I've decided on the flower brief, now the first problem I have is to find a flower I'd like to document.

Problem is I've not much experiences with flora as of date and I'd like to work on something I have some emotional attachment to. This being a rather sentimental project and I don't suppose I'd like something when I google "endangered flowers on Earth"?

A sunflower I tried growing

The first flower I've ever received in my life was a sunflower, given by my friends for their support in my performance in an orchestra concert. The first flower I ever tried to grow myself seriously was also a sunflower, the seedling given as a gift from a teacher. If there's any flower that I ought to feel something for, it would be the sunflower then. It's also my horoscope flower, being a leo. That's as much feelings I think I have for a flower for now.

What about other flowers I've come across, like roses? I like those too, because they have thorns, which sort of makes the flower seem more precious? It stands for romance and love too. Doesn't every girl like roses? I've also asked around people which are their favourite flowers and the most votes appear to go to tulips, for their simple and elegant look.

Hmm, think I'll stick with the sunflower.