What’s Blooming?

Today’s weird bird is taking time to enjoy Spring’s blossoms:

We have had an unusually cold Spring so we are behind schedule…

Our crabapple tree is just starting to display its glorious bright pink blooms:

And the lilac is filling the air with its heavenly scent:

What’s blooming where you live?

I hope you take time to smell the flowers!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers to Spring! 🌸

Outside A Window

I love the view of this crabapple tree outside my kitchen window:

This photo was taken in May when the tree was showing its spectacular pink blossoms!

I decided to add a photo of it to my mixed media sketchbook as the tree inspires me all four seasons!  I colored the photo with color pencils so the flowers stood out.

And below is the Robin that I painted and showed you in my last post:

Inspiration of place can sometimes come from what we see outside a window in our home… Below is a photo of both pages together in my art journal.

What view inspires YOU, outside a window?  I hope you share it with me!

Cheers! 🙂

Crabapple in Opera Rose

I just love Winsor and Newton’s Opera Rose!  Such a brilliant pink – a perfect color to paint my flowering crabapple in watercolor that I drew previously here.

I tried to paint it looser and added a few splatters at the end.

Now, our second crabapple tree in our yard is blooming… with all the rain we had this Spring, it is “buzzing” with new growth!  I have never seen this tree so full of blossoms.

I have a new subject to paint.  YAY!

Cheers!  🙂

Nothing Crabby!

There is nothing crabby about this Crabapple tree!  It blooms the most gorgeous colors every Spring!

I decided to try painting some of the blossoms in watercolor… yet was only able to get a sketch done today.

I’m going to try painting this one looser… hope you check back in next week to see how I do!

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL mothers – furry or human!

Cheers! 🙂

Nature’s Canvas

Apple tree budding,

One brilliant blue canvas sky

Nature brings new hope.

May you find peace in your heart today!

Happy Easter! 🙂

Seeing In Color

I recently purchased this book from Amazon, “Local Color – Seeing Place Through Watercolor,” by Mimi Robinson:

I was intrigued by the idea of remembering a place or a subject by its color palette.  So I decided to give it a try by a photo of this late blooming crabapple tree in my backyard:

I started reading the book last evening but what grabbed my attention was when she discusses seeing color by the time of day, season, etc. – things I have never really thought about before.  And how this can change the colors we see around us.

The above photo was taken on a warm, Spring afternoon so the sky is a brilliant blue.  How would the colors of the crabapple change if it was a cloudy day or if the sun was setting?

I also liked her idea about naming your own color palettes, “More often than not I invent new names for colors – I want colors to evoke a more personal connection to the place.”

She suggests you paint the colors you see in a grid format and leave room for notes.  If you use a similar format each time then you can compare them.  Sounds like fun to me – so I decided to give it a try on these three photos taken when the flowers were just starting to  open, right after they opened and when they were starting to fall from the tree:

These are the colors I saw, recorded in watercolor:

I am AMAZED that there are all these colors in this tree!  I look forward to doing more of these color palettes!  (I need to make some of my colors darker but I ran out of time.)

How do you record the colors you see when painting a subject in watercolors?  I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Painting!  🙂

Flower Showers

Crabapple blossoms

Softly fall in showers of pink

Like a bride’s bouquet…

Wishing you a Sunny Sunday!  🙂

Four Seasons of Color

I hope you enjoy seeing my glorious Crabapple tree as each season unfolds into a new one like color blends on an artist’s palette.

Bountiful Spring blossoms in raspberry pink:

Dark red fruit form against olive green leaves in Summer:

Fall bursts with color in gold leaves and bright red fruit:

Winter’s crimson berries provide a feast for the birds:

Each season is a reason to celebrate!

Cheers!  🙂