These striking “candles” are about man-high, borne on woody branches with thick needle leaves, close to the ground , for all the world like part of a giant’s Christmas tree. The colour is bright, especially in shade, while the tiny flower stalks growing at right angle to the stem give a bristly appearance. 
This is a return to watercolour, and it must have worked or I wouldn’t be showing it to you!
When I first painted in watercolour, I used a flat brush as the shape was familiar to me coming as I did from oil painting. This seemed an ideal subject to return to that brush since everything is so angular. The colour palette is Indian Yellow, Aureolin, and Burnt Sienna for the flowers and Prussian Blue with Aureolin for the leaves. Burnt Sienna was added for the real darks. The composition works because of the strong contrasts so that the “candles” sing out, and the light, brushing their tops, is emphasised. But painting is unfinished – the sides are too clean-cut.We need the bristles!
I have scratched out the bristles with a craft knife, taking care to make my scratches at right angles except for the tops where they curve outwards. They are only slight but show wonderfully against the dark background. Some tiny horizontal taps of Burnt Sienna ruffle up the body of the “candle”, while the spiky needles have added darks all using the flat edge of the brush. Played for and got, I would say!
Spectacular – they glow. Being able to see both pictures at once shows how the extra detail in the second makes it come alive, as though it has been back-lit by the sun. Magical.
Definitely! The scratched bristles sparkle beautifully.