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I have been working away in my own little greenhouse recently.
I spotted these Primula’s at a good price in an independent garden centre and had already seen an image online which had sparked the idea for plants in teacups.
It is such a joy to paint these bright, cheery spring flowers, not only are they relatively easy to paint but being surrounded by them all day is a lift to the spirits.
There was the difficult choice of which cup for which flower – I looked like a deranged gardener having an Alice in Wonderland-esque tea party!
I had to employ a unique ‘cup on cup on CD tower’ type arrangement to get the right view on it in order to paint it straight on. There were a few mis-haps but luckily Wedgwood bounces – ouch!
Here’s a little pic of my painting nest – note hot water bottle (saves having the heating on) and cup of tea dangerously close to water jug (wrong brush, in wrong liquid).
The finished piece is big (A1) cheery, bright and makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it too.
Primula Cups
© Claire Leggett
When I was five I used to play with cups like this…
… these days it looks more like this.
The teacups are finished. Over the last few weeks I have been working backwards putting in backgrounds behind the cups that I painted.
I can’t remember now why I did it that way around? I never normally do! I have also painted complete, extra backgrounds to fiddle around with in Photoshop. Maybe that’s why I painted and scanned the cups first…
Everyone whose been up to the studio has a different favourite. I love the top pink and gold one (on right.) There are clearer photo’s in Flickr. Have a lovely Monday:)
Here’s another gorgeous Pip Studio teacup. It’s a dainty little espresso cup.
I just love watery water-colours and thick textured paper and bleeding shades into each other. It’s almost meditative for me which is good because I’m not feeling very chipper. Life seems to be in control of me and not the ‘tother way around. And I’m not enjoying all the new darkness and how it seems to have shortened the day, especially for daylight painting.
Anyway grumbles aside I am enjoying all the lovely comments I’ve been getting recently.
I’ve been blogging for a few years now and it’s been a bit lonely along the way so I am utterly delighted that some of you are visiting and commenting often. It really is helping me stay enthused at the moment. Thank you.
But back to the little Pip cup because I have rambled off topic (wasn’t expecting to either, it must have wanted out though…here I am still rambling off topic!)
I bought this little cup in Brighton years ago for 25 pence. Despite it having a chip in it (I’ve used my artistic licence there) it is fitting in with my pink and blue teacup theme.
I particularly love the shape of the handle.
I really enjoy the decoration the cup has inside as you get lots of pattern from a front angle.
And last up is this pink stripe Whittard’s teacup. I was feeling a bit under the weather by the end of yesterday and forgot to take any other photo’s of it as it was painted.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.
This is one of my favourite teacups to paint. There is something satisfying about its shape and pattern to draw and paint. I started out by ghosting in all the shadows. I learnt the hard way once when I drew in all that pattern and then lost it by washing over the greys.
This time I drew the pencil on top. I love drawing on a painted surface. It has an extra yummy feel to it.
And then I filled in the blue pattern by layering shades of blue water-colour wash to get light and dark tones.
There were plenty of real cups of tea along the way too!
© Claire Leggett Blue Floral Teacup
On Friday my other half and I escaped for a day to London. What we needed when I say escape, was a day full of distraction, busyness and retail therapy and where better than London for all of that. Plus the fact that it’s been a whole year since a saw a red London bus. I find them very nostalgic and need a London fix at least once a year.
We began our mooch on Marylebone High street. Designers Guild is a big favourite of mine and I wasn’t disappointed.
You know when you write those ‘Before I die’ lists or ‘Blue Sky Thinking’ dream lists? Well one of my top 3 would be to work at Designers Guild making gorgeous patterns.
We hit Liberty’s next which Mr L had never been in before.
They have a new stationary section and I got quite a few new papers for my backgrounds.
Liberty is a one of a kind. The building is panelled head to foot like a Tudor manor house and it’s full of well-chosen, inspirational pieces.
Then down the road and across is Anthropologie which wasn’t busting with must-haves but I did pick up one or two nice pieces.
I would still love to live the Anthropologie life even if I can’t afford it.
Want to see what came home with me?
So back to work tomorrow pepped up a bit by our trip but I’ll be wishing away the days until I can start playing with all these new goodies.
