MAPLE SEEDLINGS

 

Started this painting from a photo taken while our maple tree was full of these seedlings (before they turned brownish and fell all over the deck like a seedling explosion).

We called these things helicopters or whirligigs when we were kids, throwing them up into the air and watching them whirl around as they landed on the ground.  What did you call them?

Finished - added some watercolor pencil here and there to rough it up a bit.  

BEE MY HONEYBEE

    

Just a little fourth sheet sized painting of a little honeybee inside a flower, gathering pollen.

I think I may do this one - or another similar one - again.  Wish I hadn’t gotten so dark with the bee.

MORE REFERENCE PHOTOS FROM WALKS

At Lakeside Park/Campbell County Extension Center - the Cicadas have arrived in our county.  Brood X is here - many people will no longer be going outside due to their fear of these red-eyed bugs.  For now, just a few in the garden…but we did see many in our St. Anne’s Woodland trail walk. 

   

GATHERING REFERENCES

Although painting has been slow going lately, I’ve been out gathering a lot of reference photos to use when I feel the desire to paint full out again.  So here are just a few…have been on many walks and to the Cincinnati Zoo and gardens, woods, and swamps, even!!

Kangaroos at the Cincinnati Zoo, plus flamingos sitting on eggs, and even a section for beekeeping.  So green and wonderful and not too crowded - yet.  You still need to make a reservation to go there, even though it’s free for members.   

FROM SKETCHBOOK

 

Just a few sketches in the Arches watercolor sketchbook (my favorite watercolor sketchbooks until I discovered the Stillman & Burns watercolor books).  

LANDSCAPE IN THE WEST

 

Reference was a photo taken out west year’s ago.  Tried to eat the feeling of distance without too much detail. 

IRISES HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING SHAPES

Started with wet paper and painted the flower on, paying attention to the ruffles and shapes. slowly.  No drawing.  Not too bad so went in and wet the paper a nit with a large flat brush and added to it.

NOT A CANDY PEEP

 

Peeps, but not the candy kind :)

GREEN AND GREENER

 

Since I felt this one was too blah and drab - not enough 3D look, I thought it couldn’t hurt to just go in and fiddle with watercolor crayons and more paint…see what happens.

Such playing does not always make the painting better but it is brighter and more colorful! 

MORE FROM OUR GARDEN WALK

 

A stormy sky but pretty clouds over the church steeple across from the garden.

And several plantings of false indigo - this is called Lemon Meringue False Indigo (and, yes, it can be used to dye clothing but it’s not as lasting as true indigo).

Every garden needs some cute statuary and this little piggie fits the bill!

 

NATURE PICS

Just some nature photos from our local Lakeside Garden - owned and run and planted by the UK Extension Center.  The volunteer workers there are always showing off great stuff.

Right now, the peonies have begun to bloom, as have the iris and some interesing columbines I’d never seen.  

Sweetie and I like to meet daughter, Jen and son-in-law Chris for a lunch meeting and a walk around to see what’s blooming in pretty days.  Every week something new is popping up so it’s always an adventure with lots of photos being taken.  

The garden has a small koi pond, too, and they always raise up their heads when you walk close to see if they are going to get food :) 

These are the columbines I’ve never seen.  I’ve only ever seen the skinny ones with one or two shooting-star flowers in orange.  This was a huge bunch.

Hope you enjoyed the walk with us!

GREEN

 

Did not get the depth and 3D look to this one that I wanted but maybe I’ll play with it a bit more with some watercolor crayons or pencils later.  

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

GOLDEN BEETS FINISHED?

 Finished version - would like to go back and make the cut pieces more 3D but I might just accept this as it is.  Washed a warm yellow over the whole white of the paper after I finished to give it more of a glow.  

GOLDEN BEETS

 

Started another veggie painting on Indigo paper (just less than fourth sheet).  Not sure why but I like this paper for the veggies due to the roughness?  I am getting the photos from seed catalogs showing the vegetables but not always using their photo (although this one will be from their set-up because I like it - so stay tuned and see where it goes).

I don’t grow veggies - so maybe I can just paint some!

SECOND SWEETPEA

 Finished the second version of the sweetpea.  Thought more about composition before I painted this one!