I am as happy as I can be with this small painting, but will neaten up the edges before framing. Some artists use masking tape to keep their edges straight and clean. I choose not to do this, as I like the more natural edge. I have brought some of the petals out of the frame to give added dimension.
The photo below is of an article in a local paper about my painting of ladies shoes which won a category award in a local gallery competition.

I am using Winsor & Newton Artists Watercolours in the colours of Permanent Rose, Winsor Violet, Indigo and Alizarin Crimson.
Sometimes, I feel that the wet colour is much nicer than when it is dry. There seems to be some dullness once dry but, the biggest problem I face, is putting on too much colour. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have a 'lit' effect if too much colour has been applied which can not be effectively removed. This is why it is better to build up the tone gradually adding the darkest shadows last.
The water droplets on the lower flower were in that position and approximately in the size ratio, but having included them, I now feel that they look too regimented for my comfort.
Maybe, when all the flowers have been added they will not be so dominant.

Nature presented my with a day off painting yesterday and a very slow one today. High winds blew two of our trees down and our neighbour on the left had one down on their garage. Insurance will take care of theirs, but ours were further down the garden (we have 2 acres of hillside)  and across our neighbours fence on the right. My son and I, spend 9 hours with a chain saw and other implements to remove the offending trees from the neighbours property. Today I am sore and stiff!
Just managed to add some background in earthy tones which I may darken later. The intention is to suggest views of earthy soil. I have also added some masking fluid in the areas I want water drops or stamens which are a different colour to the flower.
I hope to have recovered well enough to complete this tomorrow!

 
The completed painting won the first prize in the Australian Artist Magazine competition in June 2012 and is of a Tibouchina shrub flowers. The beauty of this shrub is the variety of tones presented on different varieties, from almost pink, to a rich purple. I decided to complete a miniature of the flower, but depicting the variety in a rich purple. It is my all time favourite shrub flower, though I admit to having a strong liking for hibiscus and frangipani!

Completed rose. It lost some definition because of its small size but I am reasonably happy with it. I must get some paper with less texture for my small paintings.
I have developed a great respect for true miniature artists or should I phrase that as artists who work in miniature!

Petal colour is being added but it is difficult to get the contrast on this small scale. It is often the final touches that make the difference.

I know that roses are not much out of the ordinary for floral painters, but I just wanted to paint this one in the small format (12x12cm). I have painted roses before, and quite like the flower, but my preference is for tropical blooms. Notwithstanding my departure from floral works over the last couple of years. I have to say I am getting more pleasure at the present from oil painting and watercolours based on ladies shoes, scarves and bags.