PURPLE LOTUS AND SPOONFLOWER

Day 25

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 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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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