The most complex flower I've ever painted 🌺 (Patreon)

Take a look at this gorgeous flower I discovered a few years ago during one of my walks in Edwards Gardens, Toronto. This Candy Stripe Peony is so stunning that it felt a bit intimidating at first, thinking of all the layers and colors needed to capture its beauty. I kept the photo on my phone for 4 years, always knowing that one day I'd work up the courage to paint it. Well, last week, I finally did!

The trick was slow layering on the petals and lots of negative painting for the background while simplifying the petals in my outline. I experimented with so many reds! I highly recommend Quinacridone Coral and Carmine from Daniel Smith as a base, plus some Perylene Violet for the shadows.

I recorded the full process and posted it yesterday, along with black-and-white outlines. It's available on all Tiers:) The total painting time (excluding drying) was about 5 hours. I'll also be doing a detailed peony tutorial this year—maybe this one, maybe a yellow one, I haven't decided yet.

For now, I hope you enjoy the step-by-step process!

Demo Link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/candy-stripe-pt-109043320