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

PURPLE LOTUS AND SPOONFLOWER

Day 25

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

 One of my goals is to frame and hang a block of 6 botanicals and I want them all to have purple and green tones.  As I was searching around for today's flower, I came across the lotus.  So, today's (and yesterday's) flower is the Purple Lotus, which happens to have special meaning for me.

Last fall we drove to Sandbridge, Virginia for a palette knife workshop with Leslie Saeta.  While on our way out to our condo on Sandbridge Beach, we came across this unusual looking pond, and later learned it's called Lotus Garden Park.  Beautiful, and like nothing we'd ever seen before!  So, in memory of a great trip, today's flower is the Lotus.

The original PURPLE LOTUS watercolor illustration is available in my Etsy shop.  Just click the picture below to access that site.

Also, I got a fun package in the mail today from the website, Spoonflower.com.

Spoonflower is a company that takes images of your own artwork and prints them on fabric.  You can have your design printed on any of 16 different fabric types - from silk faille to cotton to faux suede.  I thought I'd try it out with my first painting of the Artichoke Thistle printed on linen-cotton canvas and it arrived today.  I can tell it's a high quality fabric and the detail is great!  

You can upload your own graphic/drawing/artwork, or buy any of the designs that others have created.   To access my design, or look at hundreds of others, click the picture below.  

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

ARTICHOKE THISTLE No. 2

Day 23

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

Here is the Artichoke Thistle again, done in watercolor and ink on 140 lb. archival quality cold press paper.   Barely getting this on today before the day is done.  I think I'm ready for this challenge to go away, but I made the commitment so I'm going to finish!

While reading about the various types of Thistles, I came across the Artichoke Thistle.  It has been declared an invasive weed in most areas but I think they're beautiful and interesting.  Kind of dry and unfriendly looking until you get to that pretty tuft of purple at the top.  They're also really fun to draw and paint!  

The original watercolor of Artichoke Thistle No. 2 AND a print in the same size are available for purchase and will arrive on your doorstep creatively packaged and slipped into a cellophane sleeve, ready for your matting and framing.

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

PURPLE IRIS, BUD TO BLOOM

Day 18

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

This time around with the 30 in 30 challenge I've been behind the eight ball every, single day!  Today is no exception as I'm just beginning today's painting.  I need to paint ahead, or break it up, or piecemeal it, or something!  Because my house needs cleaning and I have laundry to do!

First, a photo of the start of the purple iris.  Such a fun project for a cool and cloudy September day!  This subject was suggested to me by a friend who has a nostalgic tie to purple irises.  I love suggestions for drawing and painting because it gets me to try something new.

 So here are some photos beginning with the ink drawing . . .

to gradually adding color.

And, finally, the finished piece!

It's so interesting that so many flowers have symbolic meanings and many are used in weddings and other events because of their meanings!  I have read that the Purple Iris is symbolic of wisdom and compliments - love that!

To purchase the ORIGINAL botanical, click below:

To purchase a print of the botanical (3 sizes available), click below:

This little adventure is going to count for about 3 days of my 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I knew this when I saw my husband come in the door with 4 shirts, freshly cleaned and pressed, FROM THE CLEANERS!

 That is NOT supposed to happen - I'm retired!!!

It's time to do some laundry.  

Thanks for looking.  I'll be back on Monday!

-Nan