WINTER'S FLOWERS

Walking outdoors in the summer - there's so much to look at and smell.  

Everyone's gardens are blooming, and lawnmowers are putting that 

great fresh-cut grass scent in the air.

Walking in the winter is a whole different story 

with only the skeletons of summer left behind, and the cold has a smell 

that's unmistakable. 

But cut a sprig from a pine at any time of year and that tangy, fresh scent 

reminds you there is life outdoors, even in winter.

Winter tames man, woman, and beast.

-William Shakespeare

THE PURPLE CLEOME - A FAMILY FAVORITE

Day 29

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3 0   P A I N T I N G S   I N   3 0   D A Y S

Today's painting is another botanical - this time the Purple Cleome.  I have fond memories of the Cleome, or Spider Plant, from 50 years ago!  When I would visit my grandparent's house, one of my favorite places to hang out was in their backyard where my grandfather kept his garden.  My family has a long string of great gardeners and he was one of them.  Grandpa used to brag about his Cleome plants saying, "They get so big by the end of the summer that I need to chop them down with an axe!"

The Cleome does grow to be quite tall - sometimes as high as 6 feet in my garden.  The seed pods that burst out on long stems, dry out, and crack open in September and October leaving thousands of seeds for next year's growth.  It's quite an amazing and enormous plant with relatively shallow roots,  and all coming from one very itty-bitty seed.  They take no effort at all to grow and faithfully return year after year all on their own.

You can find my watercolor illustration, "Purple Cleome" on Etsy.  Just click the photo below.

Also available:

               

           

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

THE SWEET SCENTED FREESIA

Day 21 

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3 0   P A I N T I N G S   I N   3 0   D A Y S

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 No. 2 - SOLD!

Day 5 

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3 0   P A I N T I N G S   I N   3 0   D A Y S

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