Tomato, Potato…Petunia?

Posted on June 7, 2016 | 35 Comments

I plant a variety of Petunias in flower pots in the Spring so I can enjoy their colors all summer long.  Here are some of the colors I planted:

According to Wikipedia, the petunia plant is described as, “Herbaceous, generally hairy, and the flowers are funnel-shaped, with petals joined together.”

The photo below on the left shows a close-up of its hairy appearance from the flower on the right:

So I clipped a few blossoms from the plant below:

And did a quick sketch in my art journal with a black micron pen and painted it in watercolors, layering the colors to create depth, as you see in my photo on the left.  On the right photo, I did another version and tried to paint looser without a sketch:

I think I like the painting on the right best.  What do you think?

Happy Painting!  🙂

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35 responses to “Tomato, Potato…Petunia?”

  1. memadtwo | June 7, 2016 at 3:58 am | Reply

    I love the nature journal format, so I’m going with the one on the left. (K)

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Jodi | June 7, 2016 at 4:46 am | Reply

    I can’t even decide – back and forth and back and forth and still love both! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. kathydoremus | June 7, 2016 at 4:53 am | Reply

    The one on the left really draws me in and sparks my curiosity.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. jennifer barrile | June 7, 2016 at 5:59 am | Reply

    Enjoying your flower paintings Jill. I like them both. Nice grouping of flowers and composition on the left and the you fill the page nicely on the right.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Margaret Parker Brown | June 7, 2016 at 6:23 am | Reply

    I love petunias and these sketches are wonderful….I especially love that bud on the second one, fresh and lively. How did you like painting without sketching first? I have been doing that lately and I really like it though at first I keep wanting to reach for the pencil.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jill Kuhn | June 7, 2016 at 11:27 am | Reply

      Thank you, Margaret. I surprised myself how much I enjoyed painting without a sketch. I enjoyed the spontaneity of it. But I think it helped to do the one in pen first as then I really got a feeling of the flower’s shape. I guess this is my goal in doing my journal. By understanding the flower, it will help me later outside the sketchbook. 🎨👍

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Laura (Createarteveryday) | June 7, 2016 at 7:06 am | Reply

    I can’t decide. LIke them both for different reasons! Maybe the one on the left, but it’s close. Maybe there’s more contrast on the left? I do like the pen lines too. Beautiful colors in your flowers & artwork, Jill!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jill Kuhn | June 7, 2016 at 11:32 am | Reply

      I realized after I did the one in my art journal that I needed to give my flowers more shape with lights and darks. So then I think it helped me with the flower on the right. I still didn’t get the light quite right on either flower though. Need more practice. 😃🎨 Thanks Laura for your comments. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Susan Feniak | June 7, 2016 at 9:38 am | Reply

    I them both equally Jill! Petunias are another of those happy flowers that one just can’t resist. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. circadianreflections | June 7, 2016 at 9:43 am | Reply

    I like them both, but really do enjoy your art journal page a bit more. Lovely work!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. artandmoondreams | June 7, 2016 at 2:48 pm | Reply

    Love what you are doing here, both images are beautiful and different enough from each other to stand alone. Thank you for sharing such lovely images.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Sharon Mann | June 7, 2016 at 3:22 pm | Reply

    I love the petunia, they don’t mind the heat so they are abundant in Las Vegas.
    Jill, your journal painting is beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Charlie O'Shields (doodlewash) | June 7, 2016 at 7:46 pm | Reply

    They’re both beautiful! Different approaches! The journal page is fab! I’m loving that you’ve got a nature journal going! It’s obvious you’re inspired…shows in the work! Lovely! 😍

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Carrie Lynn | June 7, 2016 at 11:00 pm | Reply

    Both are inspiring and beautiful! The left one captured my heart first. 🙂 Your journal is turning to be so informative and exciting. Go, Jill!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. The Artisan Duck | June 8, 2016 at 1:24 am | Reply

    I think they are both lovely for different reasons. If I had to choose then possibly the one on the left but only just 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jill Kuhn | June 8, 2016 at 6:42 am | Reply

      Thanks Hannah! I agree with you that they are each a little different. Finding a style I like is part of the fun in creating this nature journal. And some days, painting comes easier than other days. Do you find this true when you are creating your art? 😍💕🎨

      Liked by 1 person

  14. pommepal | June 9, 2016 at 2:16 am | Reply

    I love the nature journal idea and I also love the loose watercolour I know how hard water colour is, I’m struggling with it…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jill Kuhn | June 9, 2016 at 12:48 pm | Reply

      Thank you Pauline. Watercolor is not my favorite medium as I prefer collage. I think a nature journal would be fun for you with all the AMAZING plants you grow!! 🌿💕🎨

      Like

      • pommepal | June 12, 2016 at 6:23 pm |

        I’m struggling with water colour.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jill Kuhn | June 12, 2016 at 8:17 pm |

        Have you tried YouTube for free videos? A lot of people like them. I took several years of classes with a very strict teacher. I learned a lot but didn’t like the teacher much. I have also taken online classes from Fred (sorry can’t remember his last name) but if you go to http://www.CarlaSonheim.com and look at the online classes she hosts, Fred is listed. I REALLY enjoyed his teaching style. He made watercolors FUN again for me. You could take one of his classes as a self-study course. He has several of them. 😍

        Like

      • pommepal | June 13, 2016 at 3:02 am |

        Thanks for the info Jill. Yes I do watch you tube tutorials, they are a help. I will check out Fred…

        Like

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