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| April is here.The new life of nature has
begun again. I am lulled into a sense of security. I yearn
to set out the fuschias and tender geraniums that I so carefully
"wintered over". The almanac shows, however, that frost is
still possible until May 31. After recent showers I find the weeds
have sprung up in the flower beds, and are vigorously blooming. In
a matter of days they will set their millions of seeds which will scatter
in all directions when brushed by a pantleg or pet's tail. New weeds
pop up with just a small hint of sunshine and the cycle begins all over
again. So, I want to look on the cheery side. The little sparrows
have had a hard scrabble to find food all winter. The new seeds are
fresh nourishment for our flighty friends. AND it gives me renewed
interest in taking the day off from painting, printing, signing and packaging,
to be out in the pale sunshine. To get down on my knees and plunge
my hands into the rich, cool, wet earth. This is nourishment for my soul.
It is a quiet time to observe the world putting on its Spring garments
to the delight of nature lovers everywhere. But, this is April in the Northwest.
Here comes another shower. Let the weeds grow another day.
This is nature's way, and who am I, to think I can conquer it, after all?
Next Issue: A Career in Oils
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Flowers Everywhere!
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| How do you see flowers? That seems like
an odd question to ask, but let me get you to thinking. Everyones
"sees" things differently based on their experiences, their preferences
and their judgement. A child sees hollyhocks and sunflowers as towers
to challenge a "jack-in-the-beanstalk" legend. A handful of dandelions
for Mom is a bouquet to enthrone on the dining table in a crystal vase.
A young lover sees roses as a symbol of devotion between two people deeply
in love. Wives and sisters, grandmothers and widows see gifts of
flowers that remind them of loved ones at times when joy or pain cry out
to be shared. Some of us just want to enjoy flowers as they bloom
in their natural state.
"I see flowers everywhere as subjects
to capture on paper or canvas"
I see flowers everywhere as subjects to capture on paper or canvas.
I delight in different formats that best convey the essence of the type
of flower to be painted. A border of pansies in glowing colors is
fun to paint in a long horizontal piece using watercolor to show the fragile
petals glowing in the sunlight. Irises, tall and stately are perfect
for a vertical spot on a narrow wall. So, too, are sunflowers and
dahlias which I paint in gouache to express their sturdy stalks and durable
blossoms. I see the vivid colors of spring's primroses as a square
format and best suited to the strong, bright, true crayon colors of pastels.
Still life bouquets beg to be captured in oil on fine linen canvas.
Elegant and mysterious, they can be |
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depicted as the old masters might have done.
With flowers everywhere from Hawaii to Texas, from Alaska to Florida, there
will always be something new to paint. I long to see the fields of
bluebonnets, and the wild prairie flowers growing wild in the heartland.
I have seen poinsettias as tall as the rooftops. I have delighted
in the fragrance of white ginger blossoms, and marveled to see hill after
golden hill of California poppies. What a wonderful experience it
is to visit local growers and see colorful row upon row of tulips or irises.
From groomed gardens to random splashes of wildflowers in farmers fields,
I want to paint flowers.
"Each season brings new joys"
Each season brings new joys. In Spring, I see splashes of yellow
and white amidst the pale yellow-green of new growth. Summer explodes
with reds, purples, blues and pinks. Autumn tempts me with its golden-bronze
glow. Late fall and early winter start to display the grey-green
hues of the season, and suddenly Winter is here with its holly berries,
poinsettias and flowering kale. Hardy winter pansies cheer the long
dark months. Hydrangeas hold on to bare limbs, slowly fading from
blue to green and then golden tan just before the rain and sunshine bring
the Spring once more. Are there flowers everywhere to see?
Look around you and judge for yourself, and may the artist in all of us
appreciate their enduring beauty.
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