Pink Tulips

 

What is sweeter than the fragrance of potted tulips in the house?  I brought these home from Family Tree Nursery and had to do a quick painting before they fade!  I have a fondness for pink tulips, and brought some home last year, too.  After they fade and die back, I put the pot outside to plant the bulbs in the garden.  When I went to plant last year's bulbs, the three had multiplied to 9 - just like magic!  They are in my front bed waiting for their signal to emerge!  I'll plant these out there, too, when they fade.  Painting number 4799 in 4799 days. 

Sunset Over the Milk Barn

 

I've been playing with watercolor batik again, and I love the process of the layers!  On delicate rice paper I sketch out my scene with an India ink pen.  This is important to maintain the lines through the layers of watercolor and hot wax to come.  Much of the ink will have faded through this process.  I can paint a layer or two outside, but need to go in for the hot wax already warming in a dedicated crock pot. The best part of the unveiling of the painting as all of the wax is removed, and the image emerges.  So unpredictable and invigorating!  I have several in progress now.  Painting number 4798 in 4798 days. 

Along the Creek Sepia

 

Time spent with pen and ink is like time spent with an old friend! I'm using a fountain pen loaded with rich brown ink for this, and a water brush pen in my pocket.  A paper towel completes my gear so I can hike in and out fuss free. It's a little brushy along here, so deep winter is the best time of year to get good sight lines.   It becomes too difficult when the vegetation fills in during summer months.  Quiet and tranquil, this creek is a favorite local spot that I return to again and again.  Painting number 4797 in 4797 days. 

Iceberg Lettuce in Vase

 

This little head of iceberg lettuce is growing from my kitchen scraps.  It's so adorable I had to paint it!  I've started another and a tiny cabbage, too, just to see if I could coax life from the stumps.  I add a little plant food every two weeks, and refresh the water every few days.  I'm hoping for roots, but so far they evade me.  It's fun to garden inside at night, in the middle of winter!  Painting number 4796 in 4796 days. 

Going for a Walk

 

Have you ever found a drawing that you have no memory of doing?  Traditional pen and ink from 9 years ago, and have no idea where I sketched it! I'm most cases, I will see a painting or drawing that I have done in the past, and I'm instantly transported to that time and place.  I remember the sights, sounds, and weather of the day as I worked on location.  It's so strange that this completely draws a blank for me. And I found others, too.  Painting number 4795 in 4795 days.  

Chamomile and Radish Seeds

 

Chamomile and radish seeds  planted and painted! What a beautiful day to spend outside!  In addition to these seeds, I also planted 5 or 6 of the new seed varieties I bought from the Experimental Farm Network.  They are all perennial vegetables which can be winter sown, and I'm so excited to watch their progress in the coming months.  I'm marking everything I plant, because it is so easy to lose track with the sheer volume of gardening that I do!  60's today and maybe snow this weekend, so I'm making hay while the sun shines!  Painting number 4794 in 4794 days. 

White Petunias

 

I love painting and growing cascading petunias, even if the seed randomly sprout. I ordered a petunia selection from aerogarden, but I think the tiny seeds may have been jostled out of most of the net cups. I've only gotten a purple one and this one to grow to glory.  Perhaps, I should try simply putting some petunia seeds in directly.  It's fun to sketch a little of my garden life - when I get the chance!  Tyler's, Trav's and Michaela's families were out for family fun in this 63 degree weather!  It's great to have everyone out - and the horse got plenty of attention, too! Painting number 4793 in 4793 days. 

Lady Belle

 

Lady Belle is VERY interested in what I'm painting, and offering her suggestions as I work!  She's trying to figure out what I'm doing when I'm NOT there specifically to grain her, pet her, offer her treats or clean out the fence line.  She sniffed and tried to nibble on the paper, but I was too quick for her!  She's real nosy, and it's been fun getting to know her and her antics! I'm so happy Teddy wanted to rehome her with us!  Painting number 4792 in 4792 days. 

Blooms!

 

It already feels like spring inside the Family Tree Nursery!  What a great place to sketch with friends and 4 generations of my family in attendance - totally fitting for FAMILY Tree Nursery!  They are so gracious to welcome us into their lovely space.  The pink tulips featured returned home with me, along with special seeds and a couple of herbs.  I enjoyed a few lemon balm leaves on my salad today!  The ground is soft and I'm already weeding a few of the early henbit for my chickens to enjoy!  It sure doesn't feel like February!  Painting number 4789 in 4789 days.  

Pink Tulips

 It was lovely to paint at Family Tree Nursery with family and artist friends this morning!  Mom, Michaela and Kirby joined me - making 4 generations here, today!  Kirby picked out a new jade plant with a little bunny to hang off the pot, and we all enjoyed hot drinks.  The fragrance of the tulips was irresistible, and i bright them home along with lemon balm and two stevia plants.  And a few more seed packets, lol.  It's so nice to be welcomed into this beautiful, tropical place in February, even if it was 73 degrees today!  Painting number 4787 in 4787 days. 

Scallion Plants

 

It's fun to sketch the progress of scallion starts from the kitchen as they grow into plants I can use again and again!  I found the little green mason jar starter for green onions with sprouting lids in a kit, and I HAD to try it!  It's as easy as saving the bottom inch of a green onion to slip into a well with water, and watch the magic happen!  I use a lot of these in cooking, and even grow one in my hydroponic garden.  But these, I should be able to transplant outdoors when it is warm enough, for a bountiful harvest that could even be perennial in my zone.  We'll see!  Maybe, I'll never have to buy them again, and can paint them when they all break out in glorious bloom!  Painting number 4786 in 4786 days. 

Peeps and the Broom

 

This little beauty is critiquing my sketches, and giving me some good feedback!  Both of these buff brahmas are sweethearts, the smaller is the official Chicken Guard.  If Proggy perceives any danger, she sets off an alarm call, and I go out to check.  I've got cameras in the run and the henhouse, and motion sensing lights on the front and back corner of the coop. I've seen a big coyote and large raccoon, and found tracks in the snow of the same, but no predator has gotten through our security.  I hope one never does!  Painting number  4785 in 4785 days. 

Betsy on the Nest

 

Sketching Betsy on the community nest - all of our hens lay their eggs in one nest each day!!  She's one of our sweetest chickens, one of two calico princesses we have.  I don't know if all chickens do this, but ours have fun the very beginning.  Only three times has an egg missed the family plot. Two were randomly in the henhouse and one in the middle of the run!  Both of the times they were in the henhouse, the nest was fill off 7 eggs already. And if one of the hens is still on that nest, they don't mind at all when I reach underneath them to pull each egg out. I'm so happy we started on this chicken adventure. Painting number 4784 in 4784 days. 

Last Snow at the Creek

 

Too soon the snow is melting, as I squeeze in one more snowy painting. It's going to be in the 50s and 60s for the next week, with no snow in sight.  That also means I'll be spending lots of time outdoors, doing some early work in the garden beds. This was a fun day gathering with Barb, Cathy and Mom at Panera for a long lunch and visiting.  I need to schedule that in more often!  Painting number 4783 in 4783 days. 

Grandpa's Seeder

 

My grandparents used to farm with this implement, I bet they never dreamed I'd paint it one day!  We have several pieces of the old equipment, some left where they unhooked them last. It is surreal to think of their hands at work in that very spot, so many years ago.  And yet, some things remain unchanged when the whole world seems to have changed around them.  It's just one of the many reasons I love this place. It is truly in my blood.  Painting number 4782 in 4782 days. 

Carolina Wren in the Snow

This little wren is just one of our many feathered friends who constantly beg to be painted. And in the background, you can see our new Lady Belle, who is also catching my eye!  I think she wants to be painted next, but Travis and Rebekah will be here soon to spend some time with her.  She's such a sweet addition to our family. Painting number 4781 in 4781 days. 

Dark Winter Creek

 

I will never tire of painting winding creeks in the snow, especially in the deepest part of winter.  The water is very dark, without the slightest greening that comes with warmer temps. This window is short, and I hope to take advantage of every painting opportunity, while the snow remains.  Painting number 4780 in 4780 days. 

Old Hackberry in the Snow

 

I love painting the branches as they spread out from the trunk of this very old hackberry tree.  It is one of two this age in the pasture. A blanket of snow coats the ground and accentuates the branches, adding drama and light to the scene.  I though we might get some more snow today, but alas we did not.  I hope to paint a few more snowscenes before it all melts away. It was so nice to have Tyler's family and Michaela's family out for snow fun and a campfire today!  We've had a while weekend full of family fun!  Painting number 4779 in 4779 days.