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

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

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

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

LITTLE BLUE HOUSE IN LAVENDER - 8 X 10 INCH WATERCOLOR/INK

DAY 12

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

I thought I'd be finishing my blue poppies today, but I just wasn't in the mood to work on flowers today.  Maybe it was the cold and rain?  So, I went back to an old photo I used from the website, paintmyphoto.ning.com.

This is a lavender farm in France and I did a quick watercolor sketch of this same photo a while back.  This one took a lot more time but it was really fun.  I also did a really quick sketch of a different monastery/lavender farm, also in France.  Really rough, and really quick, but also fun to do.  "Little Blue House in Lavender" is available on Etsy and ready for your mat and frame.  

(Below is an example of how this piece will look with your mat and frame.) 

 "Little Blue House in Lavender"

(8 x 10 inch painting in a mat and 11 x 14 inch frame)

Watercolor, Pen/Ink

And the sketchbook version - pretty distorted because it's not on watercolor paper.  This was such a pretty little sketchbook that I picked it up even though it was a very porous handmade paper and NOT meant to handle watercolors.  Very different from today's version but I love the melding of colors.

And a really quick sketch with watercolor/ink just to have fun with the different values.

For purchase of "Little Blue House in Lavender", click the listing below:

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

FLOWERS, MORE FLOWERS, AND A TUTU

This post is all about some new paintings in my Etsy shop, 

Gillyflower Cottage.  

That's it!  Just photos!

Poppies - 24" x 36"

Purple and Chartreuse Tulips - 24" by 36"

Pink Tutu - 30" x 40"