Value sketch layer on Lilac ACEO
Compare this to the photo reference in my previous entry. In Masterful Color by Arlene Steinberg, the core concept that sets the book apart is that you do an "underpainting," essentially a value drawing, in muted complements of the final colors. Thus the yellow-green leaves are purplish-dark red, the bright lavender/blue lilac blossoms are golden tawny, and I used a little Indigo Blue for darkening the deepest darks in the greenery.
It should be interesting when it's done. I suspect the result will be even livelier in person than the scan, but once I add layers closer to the true colors of the flowers, they'll pop out. Warning, I may be making the flowers a bit bluer than the photo reference on purpose, I decided I might want to. But I may also be varying how blue they get too, since the buds are more like red-purple-pinkish. I have simplified a little, did not try to repeat each floret, but added a few details here and there drawn from them.
I might try for exact copying the reference sometime, but as I worked on this one I moved things around a bit. The florets that are in shadow were done with Tuscan Red.
I should be doing my third Reflections swap card, but I will be drawing all day and still have time to come up with a good Reflections one too. I just wanted to try this while the actual lilacs are still there on my table looking fresh and not drooping.