A Host of Golden Daffodils


 
Try your hand at... A Host of Golden Daffodils, with the expert guidance of PA Sue Ellen Wilder. Herald springtime and have a go!

As spring approaches, we all turn our thoughts to warmer days and look for those first green shoots that suddenly appear from previously frozen ground. What nicer way to celebrate spring than to paint your own golden daffodils, capturing their ethereal, fleeting beauty, softness and warming cheer. There is a delicacy and transparency to look for here - and with daffodils (as is often the case in life) less is more.

Materials:
I am a Fabriano paper fan but Bockingford is fine. SAA also do a good practice paper called Paperwave, in various sizes. Brush sizes suggested are an 8 for the daffs, 10 or 12 for the leaves, and a small detailer for touching in. The SAABS5 set of 5 brushes is a great bargain.There are many varieties of daffodil to choose from and you can enjoy trying different types and colours. Here are mine:

1 Draw a very light pencil sketch - wet the paper a bit then dry off the excess. With Cadmium Yellow Deep, paint the rim of the trumpet in a broken line -
i. e. not too heavy. Paint the trumpet with paler Cadmium Yellow on damp paper.

2 When the top rim is almost dry, fill that with Cadmium Yellow with a light touch. You can add a soft touch of Cadmium Orange if necessary to the rim while it is still damp. As it starts to dry, add a little touch of Pale Green to the very centre to indicate depth.

3 Paint the petals with Lemon, Transparent or Winsor Yellow on damp paper. Start from the inside going outwards and keep the brush strokes really soft. You are just 'kissing' the paper. Use the side of the brush for a broad stroke. Keep it fresh so that it does not look overworked. Suggest pale light green shadows in just a few places. Do not add too much or you will wind up with a green daffodil!

4 Add leaves which will push the yellow daffs forward. Try varying amounts of Prussian Blue and Lemon or French Ultramarine and Lemon or Cadmium Yellow on damp paper. Put two colours on a large brush and GO! Flick your wrist to turn the leaves. Lighten the pressure on the brush as you reach the top. Add Raw Umber brown tips on one or two leaves. Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy.

Sue Ellen looks forward to enjoying your daffodils and will comment on a selection of those she receives in a future issue of Paint. Please send to paint@saa.co.uk - daffodils, or to head office, marked PA Practise / Daffodils, by 30th March (members only).

Sue Ellen's DVD, Flowers for all Seasons
is available from SAA Home Shop

Join Sue Ellen for in-depth tuition

Shake off the winter doldrums by joining PA Sue Ellen Wilder for an uplifting workshop at her North London studio, with individual guidance in a lovely garden studio with free, easy parking. Or join her weekly class. Flowers and still life in abundance. All levels welcome.

Sat 15th March A creative day - perfecting your skills and wet into wet techniques (practise the daffodils with Sue)

Sat 26th April Spring into new growth/ April blooms and exciting colour. Find out how to keep that freshness and vibrancy

Sat 17th May Look at your individual concerns; challenge backgrounds / learn some new surprises and tricks of the trade

22nd - 28th June Painting holiday in South West France / in-depth tuition in lovely French Residence, with grounds and pool, all meals and several outings.

Please contact Sue Ellen for the latest details of these workshops, holidays and weekly classes on 0208 830 7755 sue.ellenwilder@virgin.net www.sueellenwilder.co.uk