The Sutesloly Floral Embroidery Project is semi-realistic, and it achieves that degree of realism by its use of layered colors to suggest a degree of shading — to suggest the lights and darks in nature.

Notice the Darker Ring Around the Center of the Following Zinnia.

Also notice the lightest area at the very center of the zinnia. The lightest color in the center is caused because that is where the center lifts highest toward the light.

Notice the dark ring around the sunflower’s center. This is where the center is farthest away from the light. Notice how I painted the dark ring in the following watercolor:

Sunflower – Jacki Kellum Watercolor Painting

Sunflower with the Blues – Jacki Kellum Watercolor Painting

In the Suteloly Floral Embroidery Project, the colors of the embroidery floss are changed to indicate the darker ring around the center.