Orchid Series

I have finally finished my orchid series, which consists of three very different orchid paintings. My art teacher, Claudia, who I no longer have as an art teacher because I have stopped with my art lessons (I think I officially graduated after 5 years worth of training under her), suggested that we each do a series of orchid paintings and discuss it as we go along. Well, there were some mixed feelings that I experienced whilst painting these three - joy, excitement, discouragement and fear to name a few. Here they are:

Orchid Series Number 1:

(Size: 500mm x 700mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that this painting is for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

This one turned out the most realistic. It was the first one that I painted. I did not plan it to be so realistic, but I think it worked out nicely. The background was a bit tricky. At one point I was quite worried about the background because it had too many different textures and colours happening in it that it distracted the eye away from the focal point - the orchid. I managed

to persevere and fix it by using a purple/maroon mixture of acrylics to "tone" it down (which compliments the purple in the middle of the orchid very nicely). It worked out really well in the end.

Orchid Series Number 2:

(Size: 900mm x 700mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that this painting is for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

This is my favourite one. I really enjoyed this one. Sorry... it does have a reddish colour cast. I need to take a new photo. At one point, I did fear that I had overworked the top petal of the orchid. But managed to save the painting by stopping myself from painting more on the overworked area to fix it. Instead, I worked a little more on other areas, such as the bottom left corner, which helped balance it out. After doing the first orchid painting, I really made an effort with this one to go more abstract. I did manage to achieve that to point, I think I still need to work on my abstracts! But, I love this painting for what it is and to me, this painting is very fresh and energetic.

Orchid Series Number 3:
(Size: 400mm x 400mm. Acrylic on Canvas.)

Please note that these paintings are for sale.

Please contact the artist if you are interested on artist@christytempies.co.za.

The final one of the series (as my reference plants from Claudia are still in JHB, and now I am in Postmasburg - no orchids here, just cactus plants!). It is a diptych (2 canvases, one picture). This one I finished today, after letting it stand half finished for about 2/3 weeks (not advisable!). It was almost done though, then we had to move. Anyway, this one I also tried to be more relaxed and tried to be more abstract too. The colours landed up being very bright and rich, which was a happy accident. It has some nice curves that makes it flow quite nicely.

Please note that 30% of the sale of these paintings will go to Realstart.
Please visit their website to see the positive impact they are having on the youth of South Africa at http://realstart.org/ 
 
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