Cup completed. I am happy with the result, even with it's imperfections. One of the difficulties that I experience using watercolour is getting defined edges and smooth shadows with a heavily textured paper, but my love of Arches 640 gsm with a rough texture is paramount.
My main aim in using the cup, was to have it appear in three dimensions without having a feeling of being superimposed or 'stuck on'.
My wife's suggestion of title is 'Tea Garden' which I have to admit better fits the painting than my previous suggestions. ( I am jealous of her 'way with words'!)

The natural poppies are complete and I have begun to add the poppy decoration to the cup. My wife was wondering if the cup will be visible enough to make it effective. I think that it will, as the inside of the cup and the underside of the saucer are white. These areas will have shadows but should give distinction to the shape.  Between the flowers on the cup and saucer are pale in tone, which is different from the natural green background. As well as this, there are highlights which will make the cup look like glossy porcelain. This is the challenge as, with watercolour, it is not possible to paint over if an error is made!

The poppy background is progressing. I want to make this as 'natural' as possible in contrast to the design on the cup. Whilst it will need light and shade I want to cup to appear  made from ceramics. That is the challenge of this work. I hope that the cup will appear dimensionally in front of the natural background, almost floating in front, but I am not 100% confident that I will achieve it! We shall see.

My last post was at the beginning of December! Christmas, New Year, landscaping and general artists block has prevented me from adding to the blog. I really want to continue with my portraiture and oil painting, but have not yet found the subjects to inspire me. I shall keep 'looking'!
In the meantime, I have been motivated somewhat to revert to my watercolour work. This one is a little different from my paintings of flora, in that there is a teacup added to the composition. My reason for this is twofold in that, nature inspires design and yet is not part of it, and the use of the poppy to remember the 'fallen', which I feel strongly about. The tentative title is 'The cup of Remembrance'.