The lemon test- Concetta Flore

After listening to artist Stefano Faravelli talking about how the lemon created a link between Europe and Africa, the origins of its name, the colour yellow, and seeing his beautiful lemon study on black background, I also picked up his suggestion to paint a lemon as a test.

So, today I was outside with one of the last lemons from my tree.

What can I say: it's yellow- also. It reflects sunlight. It has innumerable pores that are influenced by light and create patterns. It's intense, solid. Full of nuances. It's just...difficult. It took me nearly two hours to do the job.

Marigold Bee

Marigold Bee, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

The marigolds are growing leaps and bounds and creating beautiful color in the garden. And the bees are working like crazy gathering all the makings for honey.

Thistle

Thistle, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I saw this thistle on the edge of the yard while walking the dogs last evening and I thought it would make a good subject. Yikes, i knew these plants were deadly with their thorns but never realized just how bad they were until I sketched them. They remind me of cacti.

Sneezeweed

Sneezeweed, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

This daisy-like bloom is called 'Sneezeweed' and the scientific name is 'Helenium Autumnal'. I found it in my step-daughter's garden and that's when I realized I have some in my garden and never knew that was it's name.

Johnny-Jump-Ups

Johnny-Jump-Ups, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I just love finding those places that 'Johnny-Jump-Ups' jump up like the crack in a sidewalk.
Such a happy little face on them.

Happy Friday!

Spiderwort Wildflower

Spiderworts grow wild in our yard and they are always so interesting and such a pretty blue that I 'needed' to paint them.

Daylilies

Daylilies, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

There are so many flowers blooming right now and all are beautiful!
These daylilies grows by our split-rail fence. They are just the wild variety but so pretty.

Sketching In The Yard

Sketching In The Yard, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I decided my yard has lots to offer in wildlife so I took my paints and found this plant. I looked through my wild flower book and cannot find the name of this plant but it was sure fun to paint and then the bee came along to join the fun.

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Mexican Bird of Paradise, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

These beautiful Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers are almost at the end of their season here in Arizona. I was way out of my comfort zone but had to try and capture their beauty.

Red Sunflowers

I was at a farmers market with so many wonderful colors, shapes and beauty around me and I had no sketchbook or camera!  So I bought these red sunflowers to take home and paint.

They are so unique from the 'normal' yellow sunflowers.  And such fun to paint and try to capture their velvety texture and unusual color.

Grapes Painted With Grapes

We have some wild grapes in the yard and DH is trying to tame the vines.
When I looked at them, they were ripe and small. I tasted on and it was rather tart, but when I looked at my purple fingers I wondered if I could use the juice to paint the grapes.
It worked fantastic!
The resulting color is exactly the color of the grapes, does not mix with watercolor and dries fast.
If I could have found a natural green I would have used that also. lol

Monarda In The Fall

Monarda In The Fall, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

My Monarda grew like gangbusters this summer and when I saw what was left at the end, I wanted to paint them with their few petals left. Kind of sad when any flower comes to the end. I wish I had a painted them when they were in full bloom but my summer was spent worrying about my eye.

Puffy Weed Seed

Puffy Weed Seed, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

There are these big fluffy weed seed balls on the lake path. Not sure which plant it is but they are twice as big as a dandelion puff.
I thought it would be fun to give it a shot to paint it.
It was fun.
Another page for my Wisconsin journal.

Peony Ready To Open

Peony Ready To Open, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

My daughter's peonies were in the 'ready to open' phase so I ran out to paint them. I love the way the color is peeking out against the green. 

These flowers are so pretty even in the bud stage.

Beautyberry Clipping - Pam Johnson Brickell

Beautyberry Clipping
Originally uploaded by PJBee

My favorite fall berry bush. This is a watercolor sketch (no pencil) made in the comfort of my studio. Yeah! no mosquitoes, only ants that were on the clippings.... Luckily they didn't bite!

You can read more here: www.creatingnaturejournals.com

Gallardia - Teri Casper

Gallardia
Originally uploaded by Teri DC

My neighbor's garden is full of these gorgeous blooms.
I just had to paint one.

Cactus Bloom - Teri Casper

I  painted this from a photo I took last spring when this cactus was blooming. Their flowers are so delicate and unfortunately only last for one day, but what a joy to see them. 

Botanical - Primula

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."


Botanical - Primula 'Gold Lace'

This polyanthus primula has unusual golden-eyed flowers with black petals with gold margins. Plants enjoy a position in moist, slightly acid soil in partial shade. However they can tolerate full sun if the soil remains moist at all times, but prefer slightly acidic soil in partial shade.

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Requires consistently moist soil and should not be allowed to dry out between waterings.

a rose on Thanksgiving day

Several times, I have decided to dig this plant up. Although I successfully grew many David Austin English Roses at our old home, this plant has never done well in our present location. Instead of 4 - 5 feet tall, it is only 2 - 3 feet. Instead of covered with roses, we have a bloom maybe once or twice a month.

But how often do roses bloom at the end of November in Kansas? Maybe I'll give it one more chance after all.

This is an exercise for Cathy "Kate" Johnson's current on-line class, Keeping an Artist's Journal.

a visit to Arkansas - Vicky Williamson

We spent the weekend visiting friends living at Norfolk Lake in Arkansas. The above sketch is from their backyard; the list is all the birds and animals I saw from their deck in one day --- I was especially excited to see and hear the two pileated woodpeckers talking to each other! Too bad I didn't have a camera or sketchbook in hand at that moment.



Also in the backyard, I sketched this twig with its teeny-tiny cup fungus, still unidentified. The upper two sketches are during the drive home; Jeanette Sclar identified the seed pods as bladdernut.