I rarely paint on the weekends, but this group of tulips were interesting enough that I wanted to have little fun ~ it’s better than pulling weeds that I need to get at.
#7 Orange-Red Tulips (7×5) an oil pastel was painted on Poppy-Red tinted Mi-Teintes pastel paper – I was worried about the surface color being too bright for the overall painting, but it provided just the impressionist effect that I was looking for. I wanted the entire piece to be vibrant, w/a rich feel to it. I used mainly Senneliers and Mungyo-Gallery oil pastels, and clay shapers and a razor for spreading and blending.
Magenta, Celestial Blue, Midnight Blue, Indigo and light Cobalt blue were used to cool the piece down, and while it looks to have a spot of white in it really is a light Salmon that is showing up lighter than the actual painting.
Thanks for checking in, I’m on my way to check your blog posts (I’m very behind in my Reader work) ~ click onto the image for a larger view.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
My daffodils popped up (sadly they last only about 8 days till next year) but my tulips are not flowering. Everyone else on the block has tulips singing and shouting color in their yards.
Thank you Carl. How sad about your tulips – wonder what the problem was. Some of my bulbs didn’t open this year as well – the greens all came up, but no buds. Have a great week.
I keep coming back to look at these – stupendous – flames of hope and all that. Tulips are always a great subject, I think, for glowing colour and their wild contortions as they got older.
Wow Pippa, I am overwhelmed by your beautiful comments on this painting – beautiful description of what appeals to you about this piece. Thank you so much.
Mary, thus painting is really beautiful! Love red,red colors here❤️❤️❤️
Lovely,lovely,lovely😍
Love, love, love your comment Violet – thank you so much!
Red and green : a big challenge for these 2 complementary colors. it is very very beautiful!
Thank you so much Dsaquarelles for your lovely feedback. So glad you enjoyed this painting. You know how much I love your work, this means a lot.
I had to comment on this one. Beautiful study in reds, Mary! So bold!
Thank you Leslie – love your comment and appreciate it!
These tulips are flaming with spring!
Thank you so much Elena – Happy Spring to you!
red the color of passion ! And so much energy coming out here…bellissimo!
robert
Awesome Robert – thank you so much for your generous thoughts on this piece! Means a lot ~
I love the warmth of the whole picture. You have chosen a background I would never have imagined, but it works beautifully. You truly have that artist’s eye, making the tulips stand out, speaking to the viewer.
Thank you so much Ann-Christine, I really enjoyed your description of this painting. It was such a wonderful piece to work out on the vibrant pastel paper, I was a bit apprehensive at first and finally settled down letting the painting lead me – that’s when it all came together.
Love the warm fiery colors in this one, Mary. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, yes firey – great description! Thanks so much ~
Superlative tulips, Mary.
Thank you so much Prospero – means a lot. Very nice to see you ~
Brava, Mary. You are doing such lovely work.
Thank you so much Cynthia – I really appreciate it!
I bought some just that colour today, Mary. They’re sitting warming my hearth 🙂
Yeah, we all need a beautiful bunch of tulips to warm our surroundings. Thank you Jo!!
Mary, this is a feast of red and green… great done!
hugs…
Thank you Arlen – really appreciate your feedback!
Ooo – so gorgeous!
Thank you Fiona!
the colours and textures give it vibrance, living energy!
Thank you and so happy for your feedback on this painting Namesi!
looking good, mary! one of the strongest so far in the challenge, in my opinion!
Thanks you Namesi – the next two are coming up soon!
I am amazed at the success of the finished picture in terms of the similarity of colours of the subject and the background, Mary – but they work wonderfully together !
Thank you M.R. – the background had a bit of warm-gray blended in so it pushed the large tulip slightly forward. I made a minor (but not noticeable) adjustment today that pushed it a bit more and now it’s totally done. So you noticed, pretty cool M.R.
Your trying to make me feel my ignorance less, you kind person ! 😀
Not at all M.R., your comment was spot-on!
I gaped ! – and then felt pretty good, Mary. 🙂
Love you impressionistic style, it really fits perfectly the flower challenge. This particular painting is actually one of my favorites! Love your choice of color for the background, even do is the same color scheme with the tulips it hugs them around without taking over. The canvass exudes so much passion, the tulips are flames of fire filled with passion and desire! Beautiful work Mary!
Have a most wonderful week!
Thanks so much Eva – such a great description. The red-poppy pastel paper worked beautiful in keeping the reddish-hue throughout the painting, it was an experiment that I was happy it worked. Wow, like Cynthia, love “the tulips are flames of fire filled with passion and desire,” very cool I’m glad the painting has had this effect – that’s a compliment. Today I made a minor adjustment to the left outer side of the large tulip darkening it ever so slightly just so the tulip pops forward a bit more – it reads better. Thanks again Eva and I hope you have a wonderful week too ~
beautiful work!! the light is amazing!! 🙂
Thank you Cha for your lovely thoughts!!
This painting is my far favourite so far of the 15 flowers you’ve been doing… really, it’s just great!! The leaves in the foreground are especially eye-catching. This piece has the feel that it should be hanging up someplace for people to see. Bravo!
Thanks so much Marick – appreciate your comments and compliment! I went in today and made a very slight adjustment to help the larger tulip come forward just a bit more. I think it reads better. Enjoyed your comment about the leaves, a few last minute scraping and swiping created some interesting patterns. Thanks for noticing!
Cheers to the vibrancy.
Thanks so much Frank! Very cool to go bold – have a wonderful week.
Wow Mary! These are great! The colors are on fire!~Rita
Thanks Rita – bold for me right? Was fun thought – that red-poppy tinted paper was awesome for producing this hot look. Thanks again – hope you have a great week ahead.
sometimes our best work is accomplished when it’s not scheduled… lovely Mary 🙂
Great comment Heath and so true. Sometimes when I think I’m finished with a piece and then walk in front of it again and boldly pick up a tool and take a swipe or do a little smudge here and there, and wow – it works. You just never know – it is probably not too dissimilar to when you are writing. Thank you, I enjoyed your thoughts.
Lovely warmth in the colours you chose.
Thank you Gallivanta and hope that warmth surrounded you. Take good care and have a wonderful week ahead.
Mary, this painting is so beautiful! I am a lover of tulips and you have really created a wonderful painting with such rich vibrant colors.
Thanks so much Janell! I’m so glad that you liked the painting, it was great fun going bold on this piece! Have a beautiful week ahead!
Rich and deep, Miss Mary
just like your talent
Big Hugs
uncle john
Thanks so much Uncle John, your compliment and feedback brings on a smile – always kind and supportive. Thank you ~ the best to you for an awesome week ahead.
I hope everyone takes the time to click on the photo to enlarge it. These tulips are so vividly painted that they could be alive. Well done, Mary.
Thank you Evelyn for your beautiful comment and compliment. So glad you enlarged it – the details are very interesting. Thanks so much and hope you have a wonderful week.
The details of your work are always great. Taking a few seconds to enlarge makes a huge difference. 👍
Thanks Evelyne!
These tulips are lovely, Mary. I bought some in a pot today, but they are still in bud. I hope they are as beautiful as yours when the flowers open. 🙂
Thank you so much Slyvia – there is something so new and fresh with tulips. Perhaps it’s the nod toward Spring has arrived. Your fresh ones will be gorgeous ~ happy week to you!
Beautiful tulips, Mary.
Thanks so much Geralyn!
Just beautiful Mary, I think everyone would like this hanging in their home! 🙂
Thanks Karen for your beautiful compliment – have a wonderful week ahead.
Gorgeous!
Thanks Dorann! Happy Spring to you ~
So bright & alive, just what is needed with this long winter we’ve had!
Thank you and I couldn’t agree with you more – yeah to Spring! Thanks again ~
Very pretty. I love tulips! X
Thank you so much – really appreciate it!
Bold, bright, and beautiful!
Thanks MIchelle!!
Beautiful, Mary! I love the colors!
Thanks so much Jill! The pastel paper I used helped a lot in creating the hot effect – it was fun working the scene out.
I love these, Mary. ( But you already know I love tulips). This is the fire and desire of tulips. Bravo!
Thank you Cynthia. I love your description “fire and desire” that exactly what I felt painting this piece, actually connected very strongly to the painting. Have a beautiful week ahead ~
Oh this is amazing! Just greens and reds- but the result is very 3D. Love it!
Thanks so much Jess!! Glad you enjoyed the painting ~ have a creative week ahead!
Stunning! That is all I can say!! 🙂
Wow Susan, thank you!!
Your decision to create instead of work in the garden certainly was worth it! This is such a wonderfully vibrant and exciting piece. Love the hints of light coming from above. The complimentary palette is soothing yet energizing. Very nice Mary. xoxo
Hi Rhonda, thanks very much – so funny, I ended up back in the garden weeding for one hour. Thank you for such a neat way to describe the aspects of the painting, a bit more vibrant for me and thought you’d be able to relate to this one! Have a beautiful week ahead!!
Not too bright at all. Beautiful red colors, Mary! Love this painting 🙂
Thank you Amy, love hearing from you! Thanks again ~
One word, Mary: GORGEOUS!!!!!! 🙂
Have a great week ahead!!!!!! 🙂 xx
You always know how to make me smile Marina! Thank you so much for your awesome feedback ~ it was a fun one to paint. Hope your week ahead is a good one!
It is obvious you enjoyed it! It’s my pleasure, Mary! You too have a beautiful week! 🙂
A favorite flower and these are gorgeous, Mary. Yes, bolder than your usual palette.
Thanks Jane for your generous comment – glad you enjoyed this one!
Vivid is good, looks great 🙂
Thanks John!
I just caught this before going to bed….I think it’s beautiful:)
Thanks so much Janet – bolder than I’m used too, but was enjoyable to work with such vividness. Thanks again!