IT'S AUTUMN YELLOW IN ZINNIAVILLE

Day 6

of

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

Autumn Yellow vs. Summer Yellow

In the summertime the yellows in my garden look so bright and sunny.  They almost have a white shimmer to them as the sun beats down and sees its reflection.

But yellow just looks different in the fall.  As the leaves on our ash trees start to turn and then drop, the skeleton of the tree begins to show.  The black outline of its shape makes a stark contrast to the yellow of the leaves giving them a beautiful and rich glow.  

So, today's zinnia is a salute to the end of summer in anticipation of the appearance of the rich tones of autumn.  As the nights get longer and cooler, and the chlorophyll is blocked from the leaves, autumn yellow finally gets its chance to shine.

Today, I'm just posting a work in progress.  We had a full day with just a little time in the evening to work on today's painting for the 30 in 30 Challenge.   

So for now . . . meet "Autumn Yellow" in her birthday suit!

And, wearing a few bare essentials . . .

Looking forward to making her presentable tomorrow!

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

"FRESH CUT" - DAY 2 of 30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS

Day 2 of 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS 

It was one of those beautiful, end-of-summer days - sunny and just enough humidity to make it still feel like summer.  What better place to spend a portion of the day than in my art room with the sun and breeze pouring in the open windows!

This jumble of paper, paints, brushes, and pens led to the petite 5 x 5 inch watercolor/pen/ink I have named, "FRESH CUT."   I have used 300# Arches watercolor paper which is a thick, 100% cotton fiber paper mouldmade in France.   The watercolors used are Sennelier, also made in France and with an increased amount of honey for luminous, lightfast color.  

This flower would be an enchanting addition to your cottage garden.   It's a zinnia that is heavy on the petals and deep in the rosy-reds, and a little of the orange-reds on the petal tips.

"FRESH CUT"

5 x 5 inches

(ready for your mat and frame)

SOLD!

There is a little VIDEO showing the drawing and painting of "Fresh Cut" on my Facebook page, I hope you'll check it out by clicking the photo below!  While you're there, please click the "like" button so you can follow along on future Facebook posts for my "You Could Make That" blog.

"Fresh Cut" is available here:

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

DAD'S "SUMMER GIFTS" TO MOM - A SPRAY OF ZINNIAS

I've spent the last couple days working on some watercolors of one of my favorite garden flowers - the old fashioned zinnia.  I have great memories of zinnia bouquets on display all over my childhood home.  My dad used to love to go out to the garden in the early evening and cut bundles of them.  Then he would proudly head into the kitchen, fill up a bunch of mom's old canning jars with water, and deposit the flowers inside of them for mom to use in arrangements.  Sometimes this would mean multiple trips between kitchen and garden.  I distinctly remember my mom standing there with jars full all around her as she watched dad head back out for a another load.  She gave me a look that meant - "Where am I going to put all of these flowers?"  But, along with the raised eyebrows, there was a smile hiding on her face. I knew that deep down she was touched by his interest in filling the house with the flowers she tended.

And now the tradition continues.  I fill my house with flowers from my own garden.  While I do love bouquets everywhere, I'm sure there's a part of me that is just imitating a favorite memory of my childhood.  Isn't that what we do sometimes so that we never, ever forget?

A SPRAY OF ZINNIAS

10 X 10"

PROFUSION CHERRY

3.5 x 3.5" 

These watercolors and more can be found in my Etsy shop here.

Thanks for looking!

-Nan