Datura in Oils

Occasionally one has for no apparent reason more 'spoons' than other days (I will explain this some other time) today has been such a one. Wish I knew the 'key'. I dropped off my packing stuff to Sandy early this morning and noticed a rather large Datura tree in her garden with the most unusual coloured trumpets (kind of a cross between peach and salmon). So she kindly gave me some to bring home and paint. Thought they would be a watercolour as they were so delicate but have ended up using my last canvas and the new oil paints and am thrilled with the result. Had to work quite fast as the flowers drooped and wilted quickly. Am hoping that will get roots on the cutting and be able to plant in in the garden.

Photos show the stages of painting as well as the size of the actual flower (as big almost as Opal the cat). Quite spectacular!

Underpainted first in Seinna

then blocked in the negative spaces with Pthalo blue and green (have just learned about negative spaces).
I found the background 'not right' after completing the flower, so overpainted it with vermillion, sienna and pthalo blue.
The peach shadings are titanium white, vermillion and pthalo blue.There ended up being too much vermillion in the top half so toned it down a bit and now is drying a lovely deep reddish brownish colour. Will have to remove the flying insects another day!