Old Fashioned Lilacs

 

Nothing smells as heavenly as lilac in bloom!  I'm o happy to paint these beauties in the garden, especially after such contrary spring weather.  Those early blooms are nipped, and some were only half nipped. I have sparse blooms on the tulip tree and lilac, but the clematis is early and robust!  I even had my first iris bloom today, one given to me by Norma, a friend no longer in this world.  Many of my flowers have come to me through family and friends, and each year I remember them fondly.  Painting number 4852 in 4852 days. 

Lilac and Butterfly

My lilacs are so late to bloom, I thought the freeze had nipped their blooms. But alas, they started showing color, and now are blooming!  The north side is a little bare, but the south is glorious and so very fragrant! These cloudless sulphur butterfly had just started visiting my flowers!  These lilacs were planted by my grandmother many years ago.  They were mature when I was just a child.  I can remember coming out with her to smell their heady fragrance when I was very small, pulling the blooms right to my nose to inhale deeply.  I think I get my love of growing all things from her.  I feel close to her in her garden, and hope she would love all that I've added though the years. Painting number 5148 in 5148 days. 

Chickadee in the Lilac

Chickadee in the Lilac
Pen and Ink on paper, 6x7

Today, I switch gears, and get into the ink!  I love the way pen and ink steps back in time.  This could have been drawn 300 years ago, or just today - it is timeless.  I can look back to the first ink drawings I did in January, and wow - what a difference!  As I have penned, I have learned, and the expression has come easier with each rendering that I do.  I no longer feel a stress about attaining the likeness and feeling I want to portray, they just happen organically, almost without thought, which is how my graphite drawing has always unfolded.  This ink journey has been a sweet one, and one I will pursue forever.  I will never be too old or feeble to pick up a pen and paper!  This drawing is 1306 in 1306 days.

Lamplight on Jefferson

Lamplight on Jefferson
Oil on panel, 10x8

With temperatures so balmy at night, how can one resist painting a nocturne?  I can not remember it being so warm at night for this event, and with a theme paint for the nocturne - we set up our easels and got to work!  I had already painted an early morning painting, and then a sunset from the rooftop in Washington, so this made three for the day!  I start with a panel primed with dark acrylic paint, which I did on scene.  I could place my colors with intention this way, which I can’t do when I prime ahead.  I start first with a quick sketch of how I want to map out the composition.  Next, I start laying in those lights, being mindful of the values.  I work under a street light, never using other light sources.  Sometimes, I can’t tell what colors I really have, since it is dark.  So, when I get it inside - it is like Christmas!  I never know what I have until I open it up in the light!  Painting number 1211 in 1211 days.

French Lilac

after drawing gum removed

 As I manned the Tri-County Art League booth at Arts in the Park in Raymore this morning, I applied Pebeo drawing gum to three different paintings.  I used the plastic palette knives again, visiting and explaining the technique as people came to see what I was up to.  I have always preferred to paint from life - or at least have some kind of photo reference, but with these watercolors, I am just pulling this stuff out of my head.  Memory serves me well on all things floral - as I am an avid gardener with a lifetime of "hands on" experience in my own yard.  There is a long row of these        

French Lilac
Watercolor on paper, 10.5x7

beautiful french lilacs on the road leading to town.  Each year, they burst forth with their truly unique red-pink-purple blooms.  On this painting, I intended to leave more of the whites - to add sparkle, but I found that I just filled more in with color than I meant to.  I have a short, stubby bristle brush that is basically unusable for any paint application - and this was the perfect tool to rub out petal with a little water on the brush, and a paper towel to blot up the color.  Those are the almost ghost like petals.  You must be careful with this - lest you damage the paper by scrubbing too aggressively.  I wanted this painting to have a softer, more atmospheric quality - despite the bold use of color.  I told my daughter that I think I went overboard on this one - and she disagrees!  Oh well, another to look upon tomorrow with fresh eyes - and perhaps it will grow on me.  Painting number 537 in 537 days.