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Level 3. Advanced Practice. Part Two. Final Assignment.

During Part Two of the Advanced Practice unit, I continued working on my “Riviera Flowers” project, which I started in January this year. The first developmental part is described in this blog post: https://zhanartcom.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=13850&action=edit.

Below is the continuation of the development I did during Part Two. I have to work on different flowers—elements I will include in the painting and the background. I don’t have any final decisions about the type of flowers I will include, their design and details, or what kind of background I should make, and I am open to all options. Thus, I am trying different approaches to creating it.

I tried applying the background with brushes and a painter’s knife. I liked how inks lay on paper with a knife. The ink layer comes out even and complex simultaneously since I stretched the liquid ink over the surface, creating some uncovered places.

Option 1
Option 2
Above are two different backgrounds I prepared for the next element—flowers. On the left is Option 1 for the background: I covered the surface with pink acrylic and added a yellow ink layer on the white portions of the paper uncovered by the gold acrylic. On the right is Option 2 for the background: I stretched the gold-shade acrylic with a painter’s knife and added a new layer of green and dark green inks on top.

Option 1 for the background. Below is my development of a new element of the future painting on Option 1. This element is a branch of the plant with lots of foliage of brown and purple hues. I paint with inks on top of acrylic, which allows me to create multiple layers on the surface and achieve interesting visual details using the fluidity and transparency of inks. I know that I can’t produce the same effect with oils, I tried it last year, and it just didn’t work out for the plants and their details, such as delicate petals and leaves. In regard to background, I understood that it should be complex, not even in terms of the layers of the medium, so it gives me space to add additional hues to create the idea of sunlight in Option 1.


Here, I started to add a white aquarelle layer, which creates the volume and gives depth, as well as a sense of movement.

Below is a completed outcome for developing the branch with foliage.

Here I started to add green hues to bring more dynamic
I also added black ink to the bottom right corner
Completed look of one element.

Option 2 for the background. Here, I chose a different palette and developed another element – blue and white flowers, which grow in low small bunches.

I extensively used white aquarelle, which was playing with blue inks.
Different mediums penetrating each other’s areas creates complex shapes and interplay.

Completed development of another element – blue and red flowers.

Checkin design – composition solution options.

Below is the development of another element—another flower for the project. Option 3 for the background is a pink acrylic layer.

I added gold acrylic to pink and green. The effect is not bad; I find it interesting.

Again, below, I play with collage to see more extensive details and a details-inclusive perspective.

Another option – Option 4 for the background and development of the additional element- Sterlizae flower.

Green and yellow hues inks.

I put the developments on the wall in my Studio to reflect on them and further explore how I can combine the different flowers on one large canvas.

Placing developments in the Studio in my search for a compositional solution

I think that, so far, through new developments, I can be confident about my decisions:

  • The purple foliage branch stays in the project;
  • The flowery cactus and white bulbs also stay, and they come out interesting.
  • Sterlizia flower also stays. I should keep its strong shape of strong leaves flowers. I think it should determine the overall tone of the painting.
  • The mediums are decided: acrylics, aquarelle and inks;
  • Colours: yellow, green, pink, gold – stay.

Open questions:

  • Overall composition. It is not decided yet. I think I have to develop all the elements and then play with them to see how they come up in one canvas. In this regard, I look at the Japanese and other paintings with similar subjects – many different flowers, seasons of the year;
  • Background choice: I haven’t decided yet since I am still testing. I think the pink and green background is better than the gold one because the gold dominates over the flowers and absorbs the pigment, making it look duller. Of all 4 options for the background, my least favourite is the gold one with green patches. I plan to make new developments in blue and grey hues for the background.
  • Flowers as Elements – participants in the painting. More developments are coming.

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