Peonies at the end of the season. Watercolor / pen and ink. Plein air. Kit Miracle
I had a little time today after doing the heavy gardening to do this watercolor / pen and ink of our peonies. I love them in the spring but it seems their season is always too short. They’re gone before I really get to enjoy them. The weather was warm but breezy with a few spritzes of rain. I tried to capture the blowseyness of the blossoms but I’m afraid that this painting makes them look better than they are.
Posted in pen and ink, Uncategorized
Tagged gardening, kit miracle, pen and ink, peonies, plein air
Gardening with Scottie, 20 x 20, oil on canvas, Kit Miracle
I recently completed this winter still life painting. That is, when it’s cold outside, I usually paint inside. The theme for this painting is planning my spring garden. There were many challenges, especially all the circles and ellipticals as well as that dang ceramic dog. I’m not sure I’m done with this yet as I keep tweaking it every time I walk past it in my studio. Check out the demo for Gardening with Scottie.
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Posted in art, garden, oil painting, painting instruction, still life
Tagged art, books, country living, gardening, kit miracle, oil painting, painting, painting instruction, still life
I spent today, Mother’s Day, gardening. Last weekend I planted our considerable vegetable garden with the help of my granddaughter. Today, I concentrated on flowerbeds, planters and hanging baskets. The humidity was equal to the temperature so it was a hot, sticky day here in southern Indiana.
As I was dividing some ferns for the hanging baskets, it suddenly struck me how fugitive all my efforts were. Why am I doing this? I asked myself. Just because I love the results. I felt as if I were channeling my mother and both grandmothers, who were all great gardeners. A nice sentiment on Mother’s Day.
This led along a winding path of thinking about temporary art. Many artists have made their reputations with creating artwork which isn’t meant to last. Being the practical person that I am, I have always been a little skeptical. But just as Christo’s art events to swathe bridges and canyons in fabric, and Gonzales-Torez’s piles of candy in museums are temporary art, so is planting flowers. We do it for the sheer enjoyment and beauty.
My flowers will bring me great joy this summer until they are gone with the frosty fall. That’s enough. Isn’t it?
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Posted in art, country living, garden
Tagged art, gardening, kit miracle, temporary art
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