Large Poppies with a Gouache Underpainting

'Enveloped in Red' 18x24 pastel

I don't usually paint something for my own home but I felt my newly updated kitchen need a splash of red. The new floor and countertops are a light stone and I have reddish wood cabinets. I held one of my poppies paintings up on the wall and it was just right for the space. Since I sold my big poppy painting last week I decided to paint another version. This one is 18x24 and it is in a landscape format. While I was at it I painted an orange cactus bloom for the other wall. I'll post that one next. I am showing you the underpaintings that I did with gouache. It allowed me to be much more free with the flowers and I used a lot less pastel!