MANDARINS AND POPPIES

Orange for its emotional warmth and blue for the sky and the sea, these colors are opposite one another on the color wheel.  And what good companions they make!

Since we can't grow anything outside in Wisconsin right now, what a perfect way to bring some of those colors of nature into the house!  This painting titled Mandarins and Poppies measures 24" x 24" and is available for purchase in my Etsy shop, Gillyflower Cottage.  Think spring!

THE SWEET SCENTED FREESIA

Day 21 

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Freesia grows from a bulb (corm) and is a heavily scented flower.  The scent, along with it's graceful, curved habit makes it a favorite in bouquets.  The leaves are shaped like a sword and the flowers bloom in a little bundle at the end of the stalk.  I have painted this one with an example of the freesia bulb alongside the flower stalk.  Freesia is symbolic of innocence - a great meaning for a delicate and sweet-smelling flower!

Freesia For Innocence

8 x 10 inch watercolor

Available on Etsy 

Thanks for looking today!

-Nan

BLUE POPPIES AND PODS No. 1 - SOLD!

DAY 14

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Today brought an end to my second blue poppy watercolor, Blue Poppies and Pods.  This one is done on 300# Arches paper with Sennelier French watercolors, both archival quality.

"Blue Poppies and Pods"

10.25 x 10.25 inches with deckled edge

(shown above matted and framed - the listing is for the original painting, mat and frame are not included)

*This painting was finished in the evening so lighting was not stellar.  

Background paper is actual a bright off white, not an antique white.

"BLUE POPPIES AND PODS" can be purchased from my Etsy shop by clicking the photo below:

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

BLUE POPPIES No. 2 - SOLD!

Day 5 

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Meconopsis, or the Blue Poppy, is the national flower of Bhutan.  I have learned that this flower was discovered in 1922 by a mountaineer while trying to reach the summit of Mount Everest.  I guess it's hard to grow unless you have really fresh seeds and perfect condition.  

Shoot!  I'm sure Wisconsin doesn't fall into the category of "perfect conditions" but what a gorgeous flower with its crinkly tissue-like petals and interesting seed pods.  I have used archival quality watercolors in shades of blue and turquoise, along with a TechLiner archival quality pen.

In progress. 

 And done!

Just for an idea of what "Blue Poppies" will look like when matted and framed.

And, to purchase "Blue Poppies", click the listing below:

SOLD!

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

FULL BLOOM

I've been tending to my Etsy shop, Gillyflower Cottage, after finding that many of my items had to be reactivated and updated.  I've also been doing a fair amount of watercolor journaling and painting.  So much, in fact, that I had to listen to my last book group selection on audio.com, while I finished a painting for a friend.  Not a bad way to multitask!

So, there's a new, sweet little painting in Gillyflower Cottage.  This is a 6 x 6 inch oil on gessorbord panel called, "Full Bloom".   Check it out here.  I've been practicing the technique I learned while attending a Dreama Tolle Perry workshop in March.  Lots of color and a very painterly style - fresh, loose, visible brush strokes.  It's been very fun and challenging.

"Full Bloom" 

6 x 6 inch oil on museum quality gessobord

Thanks for checking in!