White Rose of Sharon

 

The Rose of Sharon is blooming, and I can't resist capturing it's beauty with a quick sketch!  The only color I remember from childhood, the two parent plants of this one spread out beneath two large trees on the front lawn.  My brother and I used to climb between them, stepping across the propane tank as a bridge.  A white picnic table sat under the branches in the shade, where we gathered with family.  As these reseed abundantly, I have moved many of them to other parts of the property, where they now bloom, too. This beauty is behind an old shed, in a secluded part of my garden.  Who knew I would sow the seeds of my childhood on this ancestral land - and then paint them?  Painting number 4928 in 4928 days. 

Rose of Sharon

 

How could I resist painting such a glorious Rose of Sharon?!!  This is just one of many generational plants from Grandma's garden! Im so happy to paint it at its prime! Painting number 4578 in 4578 days. 

Bee and Rose of Sharon

 

After working with my daughter for a couple of hours on my website, I had a lovely stack of handmade paper waiting for me when I arrived home!  It is a heavy weight, rough textured, deckle edged handmade paper by artisan Bhoori at Leather Village!  It is so nice of them to send me paper to try that I switched my plans for painting small, and instead tried out this new 10x7 paper. It accepts ink very well, and I found several layers of watercolor were required to get the intensity I wanted.  I can't help but think this paper would be extra nice for ink alone, and I must try that on the next piece.  I love the weight of heavy papers like this one - I can hardly wait to use it again!  Painting number 3866 in 3866 days. 

Impressions of Rose of Sharon

I love capturing last light in the Rose of Sharon, before the petals close for the night, but I wish I'd left myself more time to do so!  When painting a flower that closes it's petals, it is important to get that paint down with plenty of time to do the finish work.  I was rather absorbed in the edges and nuances of color as the golden light hit, and suddenly I could see other blooms closing that were already in shadow!  So, I finished in a rush, and I can still see things I would continue with.  I think I need another bold bloom on the mid-bottom right, and to cross the upper plane a third in from the left with foliage.  Perhaps that bee I dashed in is a wee too large?  They move so quickly that I didn't get a good shot at him before he left.  I was playing with my palette knife and tinted whites on those petals (when I lost track of time), and found it very fun indeed!  I think I'll revisit this tomorrow to finish these few things, if I find the time!  Painting number 3864 in 3864 days. 

Pink Rose of Sharon

 I love the very long bloom time of Rose of Sharons!  I can always count on them for 4th of July, and here we are, still enjoying them Labor Day weekend!  This pink one came from our old neighbors, the Ruhls.  So popular with bees and birds, I have plenty of company while painting!  Love this ink and watercolor for these quick paintings in my gardens! Painting number 2797 in 2797 days. 

Rose of Sharon

The blooms of the Rose of Sharon always remind me of my grandma.  All that I have come from her original plantings.  As I start sketching the forms of each bloom, I find I am spreading outside the borders even more than normal!  Often times, the painting takes on a life of it's own, moving where it wants to go.  I've been in and out of the rain today, so I have to shield my paper as the raindrops start to fall.  Ink, watercolor and cotton paper do not play well with rain!  Painting number 2757 in 2757 days.  

Bee and Rose of Sharon ATC

Over half of my many Rose of Sharons are in full bloom - just in time for Michaela's wedding!  Those silly Japanese beetles descended right after baling the hay, eating many tiny flower buds before they ever opened.  Those in full bloom at the time suffered, but all of these look great - and I had to paint them!  Feels so good to get a tiny art therapy break in!  Painting number 2437 in 2437 days.

Pink Rose of Sharon

Oh my, these glorious blooms are heavy on the branches!  With many bees buzzing around, I first sketch with my India ink.  Ducking here and there, as careless bees bounce off my hat and shirt, I try to get that watercolor on quickly!  I back up a little to get out of the main "bee" traffic lane, filling in my sky color last. I've never been stung by any of these bees, but those sweat bees are another issue!  One gets me almost every time I'm out!  It's a good thing I'm not allergic to them!  This painting is the 1989th in 1989 days.... I think!  I could absolutely paint these blooms all week long!

Rose of Sharon and Bee

Oh how I love the abundant blooms of the Rose of Sharon!  This seemed to pop open overnight - and the bees are buzzing all around them!  I start this painting with a fountain pen for the edges, switching to India ink for the sketchy lines.  I begin adding watercolor to the masses, saving my highlights.  I have started making a final pass with my fountain pen, only to push back the darks where needed.  That Levenger Raven Black ink mingles well with the watercolor, as long as I am mindful of it.  I'm so excited to capture all the beauty of these blooms while they last!  Another of my favorites from childhood - I used to play by these very bushes when I was young!  Painting number 1982 in 1982 days... I think!!  So easy to lose track!

ink & watercolor on paper
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Pink Rose of Sharon

Pink Rose of Sharon
Watercolor on paper, 5x7

Today, my Aunt Betty came up from Springfield to spend the day, and visit with my parents.  We had a wonderful time catching up on all of the family news!  It is on days like this that I am thankful to have found a medium that I can use so quickly!  Again in watercolors, I have painted from my pink rose of sharon bush.  The paper is small - only 5x7 inches, which also speeds the painting and drying time.  I am leaving this one rather loose, making my statement with the boldness of the colors and values.  I think I will leave this one loose, I just don't feel the need to mark the edges of the less important parts.  I like the way the pinks work against the greens, with a little ultra blue splashed in for good measure.  Tomorrow I will be taking a crazy rubber brayer workshop using acrylics - so I will have a new kind of experiment on tomorrow's post!  This painting makes 560 in 560 days - it will not be long before I reach 600 :)

White Rose of Sharon

White Rose of Sharon
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

We had a wonderful family gathering today with Mike's parents and the kids and grandkids, here to see my parents while they are in town.  My dad is doing so well - it is simply amazing.  He has not been this good since possibly before the cancer three years ago.  I feel like I can finally breath a big sigh of relief!  I am painting just a few blooms from the many rose of sharon I have in the yard.  I have them in every color - and they are loaded with flowers!  I have only painted these one other time, and that was last year, in oils.  My first memory of these flowers is when I was little and climbed on my Grandma Frank's propane tank.  From this tank, I could climb up into the two trees that flanked either side of the tank.  My brother was often right behind me, both of us finding our own perches in the branches.  I always did love climbing, and I can still climb like a cat.  When a tree needs to be pruned, I shimmy up and cut those branches.  This painting makes 559 in 559 days.  Now, back to visiting :)

Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharon
Oil on panel, 12x9

In the last few days, the rose of sharons all around my yard have burst into glorious bloom.  Petals of white, lavender and pink have opened in profusion.  After the day's work  (and an extra long work-out) had been completed, I slipped into the luxury of the refreshing pool.  As I floated lazily on my raft, my eyes were drawn again and again by this beautiful bush.  Why have I never painted one before?  The large blooms are so stunning!  They go hand in hand with summer gatherings and the Fourth of July.  Each one is either a start from my grandmother's original two bushes, or from our "Grandma Rural" - as the kids called our neighbor from years ago.  I remember playing around them when I was very small - such sweet memories!  I love these beautiful flowers, and now I have put them to panel in paint.  This is painting number 192 in as many days.