Another pansy. I've been doing the pansy series on 9x12 paper. Yesterday I started a 15x20 watercolor - a mass of pansies. I'll share it when it's completed. A nice beginning so far.
Spring is trying to arrive - I have tulips, daffodills and hiacynths peeking up. The roses are getting little leaf buds, the new lilac bush I put in last year will flower for me this year, but now it has little leaves with teeny round balls that will become lovely clusters of lilacs in a month or so. Yesterday we had sun, today we have overcast skies with a threat of snow (I know it won't stick, but omigosh!) I even planted four pansies in a pot -I look at them every time I go in my kitchen door. I have to keep them under cover because most mornings we wake up to frost all over the grass.

The image above is of a ceramic rattle - a simple beginner activity. In the classroom, I often do whatever assignment the students are working on so that I have a feel for time, difficulty, etc. involved in the project. It also provides a model for the kids. They like to see the teacher working. When they feel they can't measure up to what I'm doing, I am able to remind them that I've practiced a lot and they will get better too, if they keep trying.

Working in clay can be so therapeutic.

More Pansies

I just finished these pansy watercolors. There are two more ready to paint - maybe I'll get one started today. While at Auntie's Bookstore before First Night this year, I discovered a lovely book of pansy photos on sale. I couldn't pass it up and not only did the pansy photos help with the winter blahs, it has been a wonderful resource for the paintings I've been doing.

I took a break from pansies to do a gift for my now 4 year old granddaughter's birthday - a personal little collage just for her(she loved it).

Here are two watercolors for the pansy series that I have begun. I so desperately need spring so I can get out there and play in the dirt. Until then, I'm putting my mind (and artwork) into flowers.