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AquaVarin — Water Lily

#flower #nature #purple
Published: 2006-09-01 19:15:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 15729; Favourites: 351; Downloads: 647
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Description @__@ the most frustrating piece I've ever done, with many things not going as smooth as it should be e.g. bleedproof paper that bleed, my inability to use marker blender, and most annoying of all is lack of colors. They just simply don't make the shade I want, and so had to make do with what I have to try to get the same color as in the reference.

And there's another thing I'm not pleased with Initially I planned to go the usual route of inking then coloring. However, about 1/5 into inking, it hit me that since I'm going for a realistic look, it might me better to avoid the harsh black outline and instead use color and shadow to define shapes. White ink pen help mask some of the damage done, but some places are just impossible to fix. In hindsight, watercolor might be a better medium to portray the softness and flow. Plus, I can mix my own color that way.

Still, doing this piece is a great learning experience. A lot of time I'd draw what I think flower looks like, and not what it actually looks like, and often simplify or overlook detail. Making this helps me notice lots of thing. The stem is not always round, or is simply just a gradient of green color. The color difference between inner and outer side of petals, textures, folds, and how it's not simply just one shade. A pink petal may have a streak of purple and a subtle patch of magenta, a leaf is withering and brown at the edge and so on.

Done with reference pic. It's an evian water ads in some old magazine.
Lineart: 8/28/06
Color: 8/28-31/06
Hours spent: LOTS. though much of it is just me staring at the reference pic and try to work out just how to tackle that.

Pencil piece I did as a study before marker version[link] ,work in progress [link]
Materials
Lineart: pencil
Color: Prismacolor marker. Also color pencil for outline and detail
Also: white ink pen for masking mistakes and highlight

Critique welcome. I'd like to know what I can do better next time

and last but not least..... To my mother, water lily is one of her favorite flowers.
Related content
Comments: 153

YasminaCreates In reply to ??? [2006-09-15 23:11:11 +0000 UTC]

very beautiful i love the shadeing

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Twazak [2006-09-15 17:53:33 +0000 UTC]

It's a great drawing, doesn't look like markers at all. More like watercolours. Not really much to be improved.

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ConcreteRainx [2006-09-15 12:12:25 +0000 UTC]

ohhhhh!!! this one jumped out at me from your thumbs.. very beautiful. fabulous work

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NeoTerm7 In reply to ??? [2006-09-14 02:58:39 +0000 UTC]

You seem to have managed to "salvage" it well. This piece is suberb. The coloring is fantastic. I feel as thought I could almost reach out and touch the flower. Excellent job.

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Mew-Sumomo In reply to ??? [2006-09-13 20:40:36 +0000 UTC]

Wow, awesome coloring job. That does look like it took ages... great outcome though! It shows a lot of effort!

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GarnetStar In reply to ??? [2006-09-12 21:46:09 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work. I love the colors XD

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gribouil In reply to ??? [2006-09-11 12:06:57 +0000 UTC]

Very pure and innocent picture ^^ something refreshing
And at first view, i thought it was watercolor. Different work of what you usually do (alan rickman, is a sexy boy )

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AquaVarin In reply to gribouil [2006-09-12 22:42:23 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! and yeah, I'm trying to get some diversity in my gallery. ( he's very attractive, isn't he? )

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InaG In reply to ??? [2006-09-10 18:06:50 +0000 UTC]

beautiful! very nice work!

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AquaVarin In reply to InaG [2006-09-12 04:44:55 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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clrkrex In reply to ??? [2006-09-09 13:56:09 +0000 UTC]

It's beautiful! O.O Amazing work really! I love it!

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AquaVarin In reply to clrkrex [2006-09-09 22:18:47 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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mistique-girl-olja [2006-09-06 15:04:31 +0000 UTC]

Wow!! That's so beatifull!! It really deserves a fav!

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LadyofKaos In reply to ??? [2006-09-06 05:32:33 +0000 UTC]

That is gorgeous. There is a natural feel with it, and yet the colours are so vibrant. I think this would look amazing with a background, as well.

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AquaVarin In reply to LadyofKaos [2006-09-10 16:35:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot for both comment and fav and yeah, looking back now I should've added background.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kajavillarreal In reply to ??? [2006-09-05 20:40:04 +0000 UTC]

It looks pretty good.
The few problems I have with it:
1.Too much white, I think it might've looked better
with a background.
2. color is usually gradual, I guess it was the lack of
experience with the blender?
3. That one green leaf on the right, halfway down
looks like it's floating a bit.
....that's about all I can think of now

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AquaVarin In reply to kajavillarreal [2006-09-10 00:07:44 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I still have problem using marker blender sometimes I get a result I want, but at other times it just doesn't do anything at all. That's also one reason why there's no background. I have in mind what I want to do, but it'll involve using the unpredictable blender and I'd rather not risk it. I really need to practice more

And thanks a lot for comment

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kajavillarreal In reply to AquaVarin [2006-09-10 14:56:22 +0000 UTC]

No problem
It'll come in time

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Calined In reply to ??? [2006-09-05 11:45:28 +0000 UTC]

its cool
awesome color-mix^^
the lines make it look sharp and the part without the lines looks blurry..its like you have a depth of field
thats cool^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AquaVarin In reply to Calined [2006-09-09 22:25:02 +0000 UTC]

thanks a lot

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cambium [2006-09-05 05:30:42 +0000 UTC]

This is very well done, the shape of the petals came through nicely. Even the partial inking works; the sepal on the right, for example, where the green is outlined, but the white fades nicely with the background. You could continue the inking through the stamens and just a touch of ink in other places you wish to define to make it seem more consistent and intentional. Excellent use of colour, and congrats on sticking to drawing what's actually there. I look forward to seeing more from you.

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AquaVarin In reply to cambium [2006-09-09 23:57:52 +0000 UTC]

Wow, thanks a lot. I had initially thought about getting rid of inking altogether but your suggestion changes my mind. I'm certainly going to try that in my future pieces.

And I take a look at your gallery and your botanical drawings are just amazing. They look so delicate, so soft. I especially like how you include scientific info in your descriptions. They're very informative and help viewers to understand a bit more about beautiful things they see

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Pirrip In reply to ??? [2006-09-05 03:04:26 +0000 UTC]

Wow,that is really good, and with markers...

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Komapsunida In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 19:01:53 +0000 UTC]

aw but all that pain has paid off!! It looks really detailed and intricate, but theres a strength to it as well! I love the colouring to it as well, for some reason it reminds me of stateley homes... I couldn't say why though @_@

I like it anyway^^ dont pull yourself down so much oki? ^-^//

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AquaVarin In reply to Komapsunida [2006-09-05 20:39:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot

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SucieDesigns In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 18:32:15 +0000 UTC]

It has a definate photo quality. I'd be proud of having done this.

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AquaVarin In reply to SucieDesigns [2006-09-05 20:39:00 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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FlowerLisa [2006-09-04 14:11:36 +0000 UTC]

I think you did a wonderful job. Keep it up.

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AquaVarin In reply to FlowerLisa [2006-09-04 16:18:03 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot

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americanredhead2 In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 13:10:03 +0000 UTC]

wonderful work! at first I thought it was a photo.

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AquaVarin In reply to americanredhead2 [2006-09-04 16:18:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I'm gald you like it

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americanredhead2 In reply to AquaVarin [2006-09-05 00:26:30 +0000 UTC]

your welcome!

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taitan In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 05:40:55 +0000 UTC]

This is just adorable !

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AquaVarin In reply to taitan [2006-09-04 16:18:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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Lost-soul-finder In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 04:37:01 +0000 UTC]

this is amazing

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AquaVarin In reply to Lost-soul-finder [2006-09-04 16:19:18 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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Lost-soul-finder In reply to AquaVarin [2006-09-04 21:13:17 +0000 UTC]

no problema

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Sockpuppet44 In reply to ??? [2006-09-04 04:08:15 +0000 UTC]

great work! it looks amazing!

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AquaVarin In reply to Sockpuppet44 [2006-09-04 16:19:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot

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invisible2u [2006-09-04 02:38:08 +0000 UTC]

beautiful!

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ForbiddenSorrow [2006-09-03 21:41:47 +0000 UTC]

Very nice coloring! Like your color-sceme!

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warm-winter In reply to ??? [2006-09-03 19:50:01 +0000 UTC]

thanks for sharing this with me on the thumbshare its very retty *favs*

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AquaVarin In reply to warm-winter [2006-09-04 16:22:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much

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sazukaChan [2006-09-03 19:33:32 +0000 UTC]

Wow. Excellent coloring. I love it.

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Katt1989 In reply to ??? [2006-09-02 08:57:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow this is such great work - I love all the tones and colours! =]

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waxghost In reply to ??? [2006-09-01 22:19:32 +0000 UTC]

I stared at it, trying to think of anything you could improve, but I just couldn't come up with anything. Even the "mistakes" work.

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AquaVarin In reply to waxghost [2006-09-04 17:52:07 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, you're too kind

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seastars In reply to ??? [2006-09-01 21:06:31 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful, the colors and details really make this great. The shading also gives this so much texture, your effort paid off!

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AquaVarin In reply to seastars [2006-09-04 16:21:31 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot for comment

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Bwishey In reply to ??? [2006-09-01 19:27:56 +0000 UTC]

I think you did a really great job on this and I've enjoyed watching your progress. It has a great deal of depth and the color is quite nice. It'd be wonderful to see in person.

And yes, there's always that great debate on what you want to see and what's actually there, especially with botanical drawing. If you spend all your time drawing everything technically perfect... It can get boring. You're an artist, draw what you want to draw! If you want things to be perfect be a photographer You're allowed to make stuff up if it makes the drawing look better and more interesting (Unless you're a scientific illustrator )

This is a wonderful drawing.

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