Gladiolus

The garden has been so lovely in recent days - I just had to capture this first gladiolus of the season in bloom!  Given to Mike years ago by a friend at work, these glads come up every year and bloom - even though I never lift them for the winter!  I think this year I will move a few of them to other beds this fall, to spread the loveliness around!  Ink and watercolor is the perfect medium for a miniature painting in the garden!  Painting number 3103 in 3103 days. 

Glads!

These gorgeous glads were given to my husband many years ago by a friend at work.  They return every year, though they should not!  In this very spot, I also have calla lilies that return each year - here in Zone 5!  Craziness!  As I sketch these in ink and watercolor, I long to paint them in oils.  Working in miniature, ink and watercolor are the perfect medium.  I can work very fast with ink, letting the blooms unfold naturally.  Working out the thought process here, the oil painting should be effortless.  I love this time spent in the garden!  Painting number 2727 in 2727 days.

Pink Gladiolus - journal

I am experimenting in this new journal tonight.  The paper is handmade cotton rag from India, and the texture velvety and rather thin - I only work on one side.  Until now, I've only used my fountain pen and water brushpen in this. Today, I long to add color to the blooms, so I'm trying my watercolors with my brushpen.  The texture is not strong like watercolor paper, so I have to go easy on the water.  My brushpen is a little to abrasive too, and I have to be very careful.  My real brush would be better.  Once I got the color down, I took my Pitt pen and added some line work.  It is also the first time I've used that pen on the paper, and the super fine worked well. When it came to taking a photo on location, Beau jumped right in, knocking down one of those blooms in the process!  Another day, another plein air adventure!  Painting number 1639 in 1639 days.