Iris & Poppies — Paint by Numbers Kit

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Deep violet irises and scarlet poppies grow together in a loose, painterly border, their stems crossing, sword-shaped iris leaves cutting up through the softer poppy foliage. Two f lowers that could not be less alike in shape or colour, put side by side on purpose. The result is bold without being brash, and it holds a room well over a mantelpiece, in a dining room, or on a landing where you pass it several times a day.Two hues in direct oppositionViolet and scarlet sit almost opposite each other in temperament, one cool and receding, the other hot and advancing, and the entire energy of this design comes from that argument. Handled properly, each makes the other more intense. Handled carelessly, they meet in the middle and produce a dull maroon wherever a red brush has touched a purple section.The flowers behave differently too. Iris petals are large, sculptural and fall in clear planes, with the standards above and the falls below catching light differently. Poppies are thin, crumpled and almost translucent, rendered here as small irregular sections of red with darker creases running through them. You will find yourself changing your grip and pace as you move between the two.Level, hours, colour tierIntermediate to advanced. Around 20 to 26 hours at 40x50cm. Go for 48 colours. Both flowers need internal shading to keep their form, and because the two families of colour are already so distinct, the extra pots go into modelling rather than variety, which is precisely what this design needs.Which sizeThe composition is a vertical border of upright stems, so it suits portrait proportions. 40x50cm works comfortably. 50x60cm gives the iris falls the space to show their veining, which is one of the nicest parts of the painting. Smaller sizes squeeze the poppy creases into sections that are hard to read.Practical adviceComplete every violet section first, rinse the brush thoroughly twice, then move to the reds. Keeping the two families apart in time is the single most effective thing you can do here. Paint the iris falls with the stroke running along the direction of the petal so the veining reads correctly. Leave the greens until both flower colours are dry.The rest of our flower designs are in the florals collection, with more work of this level among the intermediate kits. If you are wondering how many evenings to allow, our guide to how long a kit takes is a good reference. Show more