Geranium

oil on card 15x20cm

Quick direct painting, done in a day last week, and now dry enough to scan. I felt I had to give it another layer of the olive, or French, grey, as the first layer was way too thin. The texture was similar to that of the blue pot - far too busy and distracting - and the geranium was completely lost.

Incidentally, this is in our front room, where the walls are French grey (BS4800 code 10 B 21, available from all good decorating outlets). It’s a dull colour in itself but it boosts anything you put against it.

I think the strokes and marks are effective, but the composition itself is maybe a bit flawed; there’s too much going on the left, leaving an absence up in the top right corner. It would have been better to turn the plant so that it faced right, heading into the top corner. But then I didn’t think of that at the time.

What I do like about it is the difference between the light, green leaves and the crumbly dry dead ones, and really enjoyed painting that contrast.