Art and More in the Garden, Northland Rosarium

In the process of getting ready for the Art in the Garden, I've pulled out some artwork that I haven't looked at for awhile. Thought I'd share.

At Last the Sun

At last the sun is shining! We have had so much rain and overcast skies and winds. Memorial Weekend is the weekend to plant the garden in North Idaho, but a person would have to do it in the rain! The heavy work is done and waiting for the sun might give me time to paint - maybe I should paint something with the sun in it - hoping that it could be more than wishful thinking.

Spring Flowers

The tulips are now faded in my yard, my new lilac bush has bloomed, the grass needs mowed about every five days (and my lawn mower won't start!), so the art blog will be on the back burner for awhile. Watch the action on my garden blog, though. And I've added a face painting blog because I've started doing more of it. I don't always get pictures because I'm usually too busy, but I've shared a few. So... today I must get that lawn mower going. I'll be back when life is a little slower.

This soft rose (4"x4" watercolor) pleases me but I'm not sure it's finished. Maybe a little splatter of color? What else should I do? I'm interested in your opinions.

These Three are in process- definitely not finished. I'm not sure I'll be able to make them into something I like, but I'll share the results when I get there. I'm thinking ink, some background flowers i.e. forget-me-nots. Suggestions? NOW I GUESS I NEED TO ASK WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE FINISHED PAINTINGS. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.

Beauty

Okay, so I was talking to Lynn, and he said he thought my whimsical lady was ugly - that was his knee-jerk reaction to the picture. I, on the other hand, find her to be peaceful and interesting and someone I'd like to know. He allowed as how he could see that too - but he still didn't love her. Isn't it interesting how each person has an individual reaction to a thing? I guess that's where the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" comes from. In this world women have to defend themselves from the bombardment of the fashion industry, the cosmetic industry, and just about every commercial and sexual concern to make us feel like we aren't good enough and if we just part with enough money, we can change all that. I love the Dove commercials that bring an awareness that we are okay the way God made us- in every shape, size, color, and age. It's also interesting to become aware of how affected both women and men are by the "popular" notion of what is beautiful. Anyway, here's my lovely lady that not everyone will see as beautiful.

Pansy Patch, 15x20 watercolor... the last of the 2010 series of pansy paintings. Time to move on to something new. Roses? Tulips? Spring is technically here, but the weather isn't. I think I'll do some tulips, daffodils, and hiacynths for awhile until I can get out and get serious about the garden. Any suggestions?

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.

Before and After

Before & After

As promised, I'm working on pansies. Last post I showed two pictures in progress. Visiting with a friend, the question came up about how you know when you're finished with a work. So... here are the before and afters. Sometimes I really enjoy the beginning and wonder if it isn't enough. What do you think?

These pictures are cropped out of the larger drawing.

Sweethearts

I have been in a pansy frame of mind lately and am working on a couple of pansy drawings in colored pencil. Up here in the Inland Northwest, it's probably two months from tulips and three months from pansies... so I'm having a springtime frame of mind as I work. Next I'll do them in watercolor. I think I'll do a whole series of pansies. Then maybe I'll have to do some tulips and roses and anything to do with the end of winter and the beginning of gardening! I'm sharing two drawings, but they are both in process.

Valentine's Day is nearly here. My school district has a four day weekend so there is plenty of time to dedicate to lovin' your Valentines.
Today a delightful preview of spring flowers arrived to invite me to be a Valentine. I couldn't say no! And I invited him to be my Valentine by decorating a box and filling it with mixed nuts and chocolates. I hope he'll consent to being Mine.

Another Birthday

So... my birthday has come and gone and I'm another year older. On Sunday one of my sons and my daughter and assorted family members came to visit, play games, eat, and just be together. They even came down early from a Schweitzer Mountain weekend to spend time with me. I was pleased. Because she was unable to attend the Sunday gathering, I met with my daughter-in-law for lunch the next day, my actual birthday. My son, her husband, is in Afghanistan. I brought my youngest granddaughter, age 3, home with me to spend the night.

We had great adventures. Having her around helped me forget that I was another year older - and reminded me that I'm not getting any younger. Keeping up with little ones wears a grandma out!

Natalie loves to look at pictures so I showed her my blog which included the face painting. Of course she wanted to have her face painted... She was too cute not to share- enjoy the photos. Don't grandchildren just make your heart swell with love?
My granddaughter is 3 years old and a delightful child who loves princesses and dressing up pretty. She is beyond cute!

Of course, my other grandchildren are also above average, handsome & beautiful, smart, talented, and wonderful. Three of them are close to the same age (8-10) and when I have them together they often make me laugh until I cry. I am so blessed. My oldest grandchild (big sister to Natalie, the princess) is 18 and a freshman at University of Idaho. She is knock 'em dead beautiful with a dynamic future ahead of her. I am very proud. I love them all so very much.

A New Year

Christmas was wonderful and so was ending the old year to embrace the new. I did the First Night face painting again- this year the Shriner ladies were the bulk of the painters, I think I was the only one who wasn't. We then walked over to the Bank of America lobby to "check buttons" for Six Foot Swing, a lovely group with a following of excellent dancers. The group had an acoustic bass, a washboard & bells, clarinet, keyboard and a lovely woman with deep sexy voice and a plunging neckline. Not only was the music pleasing, the dancing was delightful to watch. There were young dancers (20 somethings) and older dancers (50 and 60 somethings) and all ages in between. Clearly the younger dancers were into competitive dance -their moves were inventive, high energy, fun! There was another couple (from the 50 somethings)who had clearly spent some time dancing. He led her smoothly around the floor with power and varying moves that made it the epitome of partner dancing. Beautiful. I wish I had taken pictures. Sorry. Well, I did take a few of the faces I painted, some of which I've shared on this blog.

I hope your New Year has had a pleasant beginning.