Parrot Tulips by Lynne Henderson

Take a look at these beautiful and lifelike tulips, Painted by Lynne Henderson. I find it remarkably interesting to read about her technique. It is a pleasure to step aside and let her speak for herself.

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Another technique I developed came from experiments during the textile module of an art and design course I did at the local college. Wet into wet watercolour is very reminiscent of silk painting, as is the use of gutta resist line work to contain the colour washes and prevent them from spreading outside of the area of application. I found that the tube-lining done with glass painting could give me the gutta resist effect on paper, so off I went and collected many tubes of different colours from my local craft shop. In this painting on paper, you can hopefully see where this raised outlining was applied to the edges of the leaves and petals. Left to dry, I then had fun using very rich contrasts of wet into wet work within the leaves and petals, finishing off with a dramatic sky effect. The subject came from a pot of parrot tulips I bought and photographed which have been used a few times now in other compositions. Another ‘trick’ I used for texture in other paintings in this style was to apply PVA glue to certain areas of flowers, for example, the anthers, which would be raised when dry for painting on top off. Paintings done using these techniques have shine, shimmer, and 3D qualities when you view the original or touch them. Sand added to the PVA glue when wet was another method I used for natural history and landscape paintings. I went on to do many works in this way which I dubbed my ‘texturals’, and they have brought forth quite a few exclamations when they have gone to the picture framers.

Parrot Tulips, mixed media on paper, 8 by 10 inches

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© HMH, 2021


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2 responses to “Parrot Tulips by Lynne Henderson”

  1. Debi avatar

    Hi Hanne!
    Very interesting read about the methodology used in this artwork. It shows a lot of thinking outside the box! I experimented with using sand added to oil when I painted sand but it really didn’t work right for me. I should have experimented separate from the painting with different mediums and amounts of sand but I never finished the painting. Do you think using sand would work with watercolors?

  2. Hanne H avatar
    Hanne H

    I don’t have any experience with adding texture to watercolours, but I’ve done it with other art objects — using acrylics.
    You can find examples here and there in my painting posts.

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