SPANISH LACE

Spanish Lace is quite a large painting. The cream colored teapot is from Spain. The blue and white mug next to the teapot is from Mexico. I wanted this to be the largest size watercolor painting allowed by Ohio Watercolor Society and is 36 x 23," painted on 300# Arches watercolor paper. I have entered this into the 2025 OWS competition. I'll let you know how it goes! In the meantime, I thought you might like to see the progression paintings of this one:

I began with a light pencil drawing, then added some color to the top of the painting: the background fabric stripes and the teapot.

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After completing the teapot, the mug and the upper background fabric; I began with the lower patterned fabric (all the time avoiding the most challenging part of this painting, the lace).

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I continued this lower fabric, painting around the lace. By doing so, the lace began to appear!

By more "negative painting" (painting around the lace, but not painting the lace itself), more and more of the lace look began to take shape.

Before actually painting lace, using Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White; I first used some pale blues to indicate the folds of the lace. After the blues dried, the white was applied on top.
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I compared the photo to the painting and found a few things to tweak. After adding more color into the lace (where the patterned fabric could be seen under the lace); I carefully placed more of the blues onto the lace to give it some dimension, some sense of shadows as the lace folded upon itself or was not getting as much sunlight (especially on the right side).

I hope you have enjoyed this little demonstration. I do hope SPANISH LACE gets a bit of admiration (and possibly an award?) by the judge in the upcoming competition. Until next time, have a blessed week! 

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Please leave your comments below!

Donna