Sunday, June 10, 2007

Flowers from the Arboretum Perennial Garden

We had an advisory board retreat Thursday for the Arboretum -- new people, new ideas -- a very enthusiastic and helpful group. In preparation for the meeting, my technician and I picked some of the flowers blooming in the kitchen and perennial gardens --black-eyed Susans, Sunrise Echinacea, butterfly bush, some flowering herbs, blooming grasses. We placed them in vases to accentuate the 'garden' aspect of the work we were trying to accomplish.

The meeting lasted most of the day, so I had to resort to photos to use when I returned home. I penciled the outline of the vase, but decided to try to NOT outline the flowers -- and to just 'go for it' with paint. This is much harder for me .. I tend to rely -- probably too much -- on my 'lines' ...I like that this sketch is a bit looser ... but the jury is still out about how much I like it! LOL I'll have to try repeating this technique many more times to overcome my own reluctance and to improve this approach.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks good to me! Keep doing it that way!!

Anonymous said...

Lin,
This is fabulous! Since I tend to work like you, I can really understand what a stretch this is - but I think you succeeded beautifully.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Oh Lin, I love the colors in this one. So vibrant and alive. I really enjoy this.

caseytoussaint said...

I think it works, Lin. I'm looking forward to more like this!

Anonymous said...

Lin, I have been thinking about this, too -- not with watercolors (I haven't even ventured there yet!), but with watercolor pencils. I tend to like (need?) the outline, but you have inspired me, because what you've done is beautiful.

Karen Sandstrom said...

I like it a lot. Yeah, keep going.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

I think you did wonderful on this Lin. It is beautiful. Keep going!
Ronell

Penny said...

I really like this Lin, I found after doing a class with a very fine watercolour artist who teaches in the style of Charles Reid that i liked going for it instead of drawing in the outlines. Much easier to do on good watercolour paper too.

"Joy" said...

Lin, your artwork is amazing! Oh how I wish I could paint flowers! You have quite a talent!

Donn said...

You did great without the lines! Don't think you would want them on this one. Can't get more perfect that this one!