Cosmos!

Garden inspiration is on the easel today and rhe bees on my cosmos have captured my heart!  I grew them last year, the first time in years, and fell in love with their airy habit and cheerful blooms that required little from me during busy days.  I saved seed, but didn't need to, because many volunteers have popped up where I had them last.  So, I've been moving them to almost every bed in the hope that they will bloom profusely and pop up again next year.  The busier I am, the more I lean on the vigorous growers in my gardens to do the heavy lifting. I also spotted a rare pink lily at the local nursery today, and I may just have to go bring that home, too!  Painting number 4942 in 4942 days. 

Cosmos Bee

 

My volunteer cosmos is starting to bloom - and the bees are thrilled!  I'm transplanting them into many beds to add their cheerful color everywhere! With their light, fern like leaves, the blooms almost float in the foreground.  I hope they will fill in to sunny and shady beds alike, for an effortless bloom time that nearly goes till frost! Painting number 4922 in 4922 days. 

Cosmos Bee

I love painting the bees on my giant cosmos!  This flower towers above me - and is loaded with blooms!  My paper is a new handmade cotton paper that is less porous than most.  It feels more like 140lb cold pressed, so I'm not a fan.  I like the way ink behaves on it, so I may reserve this paper for only ink in the future. I am also trying new Sennelier half pan watercolors, and the jury is still out.  They feel a bit creamy pulling off the cake, but I was hoping for stronger pigment without layering to get it.  It's the first time I've tried this brand, so let the exploration begin!  This painting is number 5154 in 5154 days, and is headed to the gallery at Powell Gardens if someone doesn't buy it first! 

Cosmos!

 

Another beautiful day in the garden, and I'm painting cosmos that are taller than I am!  Oh, how the pollinators LOVE them!  Tiffany, Michaela, Casper and Kirby joined me for a little ink and watercolor time today, as we played with our new Summer Fun palettes from Chubby Mermaid.  Tiffany painted a whole field of sunflowers, Michaela a single sunflower, and Casper painted so MANY paintings, starting with the sunflowers first!  I pulled out my journals to see what I need to do to complete them, and added a couple of entries to a brand new one, too.  I've been wanting to get to these cosmos blooms for days, and I'm so happy to finally get to them!  What a great day!  Painting number 5141 in 5141 days.