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I Painted A Poppy Flower From Birth To Death In Watercolor
I Painted A Poppy Flower From Birth To Death In Watercolor
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I Painted A Poppy Flower From Birth To Death In Watercolor

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I started painting beautiful flowers 6 years ago using watercolor. My realistic paintings don’t raise discussion on worldviews, woman’s rights, or the climate… If they are about anything, it is in celebration of nature and natural beauty, which quite frankly just blows my mind!

By taking away the background and having a single red flower suspended, drifting in white space, it really brings the color, shape, and the play between light and shadows to the foreground without the distractions of what normally accompanies a growing plant.

This way everything quietens down and a single, dramatic focus is the result.

This series of realistic artworks I did “A Brilliant Life” follows the Poppy flower from birth to death, a somewhat gloomy theme I know.

The potential of the bud, the perfect colorful flower, the loss of beauty, and then the stillness of the final watercolor painting was so interesting to document. It seems rather like the human life cycle I guess now that I write that description of these realistic drawings.

It took me 18 months to complete the 6 watercolor drawings and about 2 months to paint each one.

I have included some “in process” pictures to show the painting techniques I use as so often people comment on them being “great photos” and don’t believe me when I tell them they are paintings.

More info: deniseramsay.com

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    Denise Ramsay Artist

    Denise Ramsay Artist

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    I started painting flowers using watercolor 6 years ago. I paint, bright, sunlit blooms super-sized and super-realistic.

    Read less »
    Denise Ramsay Artist

    Denise Ramsay Artist

    Author, Community member

    I started painting flowers using watercolor 6 years ago. I paint, bright, sunlit blooms super-sized and super-realistic.

    What do you think ?
    Chicago Kitty
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your work reminds me of the amazing and beautifully detailed botanical books from the 19th century. SO beautiful - I hope you have the opportunity to have your work published, it would make a wonderful coffee table book!

    diane a
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely beautiful - thank you - I used to paint (in oils) makes me want to take it up again although no-where near your wonderful skill

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks Diane 😁 for your kind words. You should take it up again!! everyone needs a bit of creativity in their lives ...it's really relaxing didn't you think when you were painting? I do love it.

    Load More Replies...
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    Bella Smith
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is absolutly beautiful I keep wanting to go and touch or pick them for mothers day and then I realise I cant BEAUTIFUL

    Kika Virtanen
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are truly talented. And also agree on the comment of botanical books. Similar were those old info posters with flowers and animals explained. Yours would make beautiful posters or fabric patterns etc. Pillows! Oh, everything 😍

    Ethan Slusser
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I hadn’t read the title, I would’ve thought this was photography

    Randy Inbred
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Denise this is amazing! You should do the YouTube idea mentioned earlier. You could be the new Bob Ross!!!

    Tom Hardeveld
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Such detail! This is truely amazing. (making a mind-note to show these to mom, she loves poppy's)

    John Louis
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are obviously an amazingly skilled artist. The flower sequence is an excellent study. Congratulations on your display on boredpanda. I hope we see more of your talent.

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks heaps John.... I will post others in the future. It does take me a long time to paint each one.. so there might be a wait !! 😆

    Load More Replies...
    Susanna Vesna
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poppies are my favourite flowers, and it's sad that they have been stigmatized by the whole drug business. Some people don't even know that not all poppies can make opium or whatever. They used to grow in the wild and they used to be sold in flower shops. Thank you for this art!

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are so right Susanna.... they do get bad press don't they!! Anyway, this series may help them be seen a little differently. 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Iwona Milewska
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stunning! Love the intricate detail you pit into this series of paintings, it's a pleasure to look at them, and a privellege to be able to do so! Thank you so much!

    Thegreatcountryofverden
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought you painted a poppy flower for your entire life, by the title.

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ha!! Well, that would be boring.... and from the title, I guess "life to death" means I would be dead then?? That's a bit grim, hope I have some years left in me yet!! 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Karla Thompson
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here I was thinking I’m a decent water color artist... I’m going to go to a corner to cry now lol

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nooooo....eveyone is different in their style of watercolour. Just keep doing your own thing Karla! 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Jef Bateman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These are very nicely done. I was hoping to see some of the seeds in the seed pod in the final painting so that it would be hopeful for the future.

    Jess Cogan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You should definitely consider creating YouTube tutorials on watercolor paintings! I love your art =]

    Justyna Piasecka
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unbelievable detail - you are very talented...and to paint so realistically on a grand scale, i magine is even more difficult... just curious, are you using masking fluid in your work?

    Wina Alkerchief
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my God! Your art is absoluteltly gorgeous and amaziiiing... Like total minf blowing

    Akshay Dandale
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very impressive pics.... I have visited an site where i found this some cool and useful pics.Follow the link : http://www.culexy.com/blog_diy_description.php?id=10

    Chicago Kitty
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your work reminds me of the amazing and beautifully detailed botanical books from the 19th century. SO beautiful - I hope you have the opportunity to have your work published, it would make a wonderful coffee table book!

    diane a
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely beautiful - thank you - I used to paint (in oils) makes me want to take it up again although no-where near your wonderful skill

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks Diane 😁 for your kind words. You should take it up again!! everyone needs a bit of creativity in their lives ...it's really relaxing didn't you think when you were painting? I do love it.

    Load More Replies...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Bella Smith
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is absolutly beautiful I keep wanting to go and touch or pick them for mothers day and then I realise I cant BEAUTIFUL

    Kika Virtanen
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are truly talented. And also agree on the comment of botanical books. Similar were those old info posters with flowers and animals explained. Yours would make beautiful posters or fabric patterns etc. Pillows! Oh, everything 😍

    Ethan Slusser
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I hadn’t read the title, I would’ve thought this was photography

    Randy Inbred
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Denise this is amazing! You should do the YouTube idea mentioned earlier. You could be the new Bob Ross!!!

    Tom Hardeveld
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Such detail! This is truely amazing. (making a mind-note to show these to mom, she loves poppy's)

    John Louis
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are obviously an amazingly skilled artist. The flower sequence is an excellent study. Congratulations on your display on boredpanda. I hope we see more of your talent.

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks heaps John.... I will post others in the future. It does take me a long time to paint each one.. so there might be a wait !! 😆

    Load More Replies...
    Susanna Vesna
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poppies are my favourite flowers, and it's sad that they have been stigmatized by the whole drug business. Some people don't even know that not all poppies can make opium or whatever. They used to grow in the wild and they used to be sold in flower shops. Thank you for this art!

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are so right Susanna.... they do get bad press don't they!! Anyway, this series may help them be seen a little differently. 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Iwona Milewska
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stunning! Love the intricate detail you pit into this series of paintings, it's a pleasure to look at them, and a privellege to be able to do so! Thank you so much!

    Thegreatcountryofverden
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought you painted a poppy flower for your entire life, by the title.

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ha!! Well, that would be boring.... and from the title, I guess "life to death" means I would be dead then?? That's a bit grim, hope I have some years left in me yet!! 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Karla Thompson
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here I was thinking I’m a decent water color artist... I’m going to go to a corner to cry now lol

    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nooooo....eveyone is different in their style of watercolour. Just keep doing your own thing Karla! 😊

    Load More Replies...
    Jef Bateman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These are very nicely done. I was hoping to see some of the seeds in the seed pod in the final painting so that it would be hopeful for the future.

    Jess Cogan
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You should definitely consider creating YouTube tutorials on watercolor paintings! I love your art =]

    Justyna Piasecka
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    unbelievable detail - you are very talented...and to paint so realistically on a grand scale, i magine is even more difficult... just curious, are you using masking fluid in your work?

    Wina Alkerchief
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my God! Your art is absoluteltly gorgeous and amaziiiing... Like total minf blowing

    Akshay Dandale
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very impressive pics.... I have visited an site where i found this some cool and useful pics.Follow the link : http://www.culexy.com/blog_diy_description.php?id=10

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