Weekly BobBlast Issue 521
Best of BobBlast Loosen Up! Two Techniques for Painting Flowers

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

I am at Dillman’s Resort teaching a couple of workshops! So this week’s BobBlast is a Best of BobBlast all about “Two Techniques for Painting Flowers.”

In this BobBlast, my demos are painting a vase of flowers using two techniques—Making a Mess and Wiping Away. We have an online workshop on this subject coming up, plus it is part of my longest running and favorite workshop to teach—Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting, featuring flowers, landscapes, single subjects, abstracts… all the good stuff in one workshop!

Watch the Demo—Keeping the start loose and abstract, I splatter and dribble splashes of clean colors all over a sheet of pregessoed watercolor paper. Prior to splashing, I covered the paper with a mid tone of a warm orangeyellow acrylic, let dry.

Next, I decide on the overall silhouette shape of a vase holding a bouquet of loose flowers. The composition of the painting is determined by this silhouette. I load my brush with an opaque color and paint out the parts that don't look like the vase and flowers—I am basically painting the background.

Once the graphic shape has been determined, I brush in the key focal point flower, referring to my color wheel's focal point color. The next step is adding the two spice colors right next to the focal point color. 

Now I continue painting some more—moving my brush all over the surface of the painting, adding and subtracting color shapes, until the painting becomes less abstract and appears to look like a very loose interpretation of my original intentions. 

The second technique is wiping away also known as reductive, or negative shape painting.  In the demo you see me brush a very dark color on top of pregessoed watercolor paper. You can use any type of surface for this technique. 

Once the whole surface is covered with very wet, dark paint, I immediately sprinkle isopropyl alcohol all over. This creates small, white ringlets that just may look like the beginnings of flowers. This is a fun effect! Now, continuing on the overall vase shape, I wipe away the still wet dark background color to make the vase shape and body of the bouquet. 

Then, I scrape lines and add color where I see fit. Remember, these are simple ways to start loose.

Creating Abstract Florals with these two techniques are part of my Loosen Up Workshop Retreat! I have an InPerson Loosen Up Workshop in my Studio coming up in a few months! There are more inperson Loosen Up Workshops scheduled in Bar Harbor, Maine and Hermosa Beach, CA. Join us! Reserve your spot today!

Loosen Up! Workshop Coming Up
•September 1115, 2024
InPerson, in Bob's Studio, Arroyo Grande, CA
Limited to 10 Painters!
https://robertburridge.com/burridges...
Scroll down to 5 Day Instructional Workshops
Contact [email protected] for questions!

Online Monthly Demos
•July 17, 2024
"Putting the WOW in your Painting"

•August 14, 2024
"Making Your Mark"
Click here for more info

One Day Intensive Workshops Coming Up!
•June 26, 2024
"Abstract Florals from Loose Colorful Splatters"
Click here for more info
•July 31, 2024
"Neutrals: How to Create & Use!
Click here for more info

Traveling Bob – InPerson Workshops!
•October 1418, 2024
"Loosen Up Painting Retreat"
Bar Harbor, Maine
contact 7157472054 or [email protected]
Click here for more info

•October 28November 1, 2024
"Loosen Up Painting Retreat" & Gallery Show at GOH
Gallery of Hermosa, Hermosa Beach, CA
Contact (323) 3646606 or [email protected]
Click here for more info

•January 610, 2025
Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ
Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts
contact 7157472054 or [email protected]
Click here for more info

•January 1825, 2025
Tropical Escapaint!  Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico
Casa de Los Artistas
Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 
Contact Robert Masla, (413) 3354295
Click here for more info

Online Figure Workshops!
•September 2729, 2024
"Abstract Figurative"
Sponsored by the Sedona Arts Center
Click here for more info

•December 68, 2024
"Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion & Emotion"
Click here for more info

Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California
• July 2628 Larger & Looser Abstract Painting 
• August 811 Mentor Workshop SOLD OUT
• September 913 Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting
• October 36 Mentor Workshop
Click here for more info

Burridge Critiques Your Art
Online honest critiques • Private oneonone
Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Suggestions
Click here for more info