I thought that I had posted the completed 'Tea Garden 2' watercolour but realised, after posting my sketches that I hadn't, so here it is!

My next painting will be an oil, and I am planning my first still life! These are sketches of two of the objects that I am considering including in the composition. One is a wire basket and the other a small jug with 'biblical' figures in the 'arched relief windows'. I like the contrast between the porcelain of the jug and the metal of the lid and the 'line' quality of the basket.
I had considered a cup and saucer but felt that I wanted something a little more 'antique'.

 

The floral background is mostly complete. I expect that painting the cup will present an even greater challenge.

Flowers almost complete and the 'light' quality is more closely at the level that I wanted to achieve.
The whole painting should be completed over the next few days though, at this stage, I am not quite decided on the flower pattern for the cup and saucer.

Progress is being made, albeit a little slower than I would like. This photo was taken using my mini ipad instead of the phone and I think that it gives a more accurate rendition of the work. the group of flowers at the bottom right will have a few rendered as in full sunlight which I am hoping will improve the 'sun-lit' feel that I like. All in all, I am feeling a little more content with it.

For most of this painting, I used Cobalt blue to make the different shades of violet, but have changed now to using more of the ultramarine blue, which does not make it as 'grainy'.
My usual compositional technique of having a stable triangle embedded in the painting is not as obvious with this work. At the moment, it has a strong diagonal emphasis with the band of flowers from the bottom right to the top left. I expect that this will be counterbalanced once the cup and saucer are painted in, as it will 'draw the eye' of the viewer.

What I am finding about some of the colours that I am using in this painting, is that they become 'grainy' when dry on the textured paper. I like the texture of the paper, but the 'graininess' makes it less 'crisp', which I think is why I am not as happy with the light effect in the work.  I have darkened a few shadows, which increases the contrast, and I think that this helps. I shall continue tomorrow.