For several years now I've been drawn to that wild flower, bush, or tree that has the tenacity to grown in an impossible place. I've seen a tree grow to full stature on the side of a cliff where there can't be more than a few inches of dirt clinging to the rock. When I see these creatures fighting with everything they have to not only survive, but thrive in the hardest of circumstances it gives me courage to keep going and hope that I too can find the light and the nourishment and the strength to reach my full potential.
Hedging Your Bets
I never really understood the phrase "hedging your bets". Apparently it's a bit like covering your bases, making sure you've protected yourself from all sides. Well, my little hedge here isn't protecting us from all sides, so maybe I need to hedge my bets on my hedges and cover a little more ground.
Cornering the Market
If you're in the market for flowers, you've come to the right place, at the right time. In fact, I'm turning a corner on my flowers and they are just about done.
Little Purple Pansies Touched with Yellow Gold
Little purple pansies, touched with yellow gold,
Growing in one corner of the garden old;
We are very tiny but must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.
I used to sing this song when I was a child. I had no idea what a purple pansy was, but I wanted to grow them in my garden. Now I can't see one without singing that song. It's amazing how many memories can emerge when I'm painting.
Pinky Tuscadero
Does anyone remember Pinky Tuscadero? When I was painting all this pink, her name kept coming to mind. I couldn't remember what she looked like, only that when I was young I wanted to be her (oh dear, I'm advertising my age!). I had to google her just to check in with my childhood. Not at all what I remembered, but fun to visit the past just the same. What do you think of when your think pink?
On the Corner of Sacoila and Rose
I made it to the corner. The challenge is as much trying to find different kinds of flowers to paint as it is physically painting them. I'm actually looking at embroidery images rather than photos of flowers because I want them to look more like needlework that real flowers. I still want reality though, as I have seen some beautiful needlework that looks photographic. It's fun watching it come together.
Borderline
I'm borderline crazy about this painting. I'm having so much fun. It's hard to find as many different kinds of flowers as I want in all the different colors that I want to do. I'm working on a large canvas and I'm painting small, so it's going to take a lot of variety to fill it. What a fun challenge.
Border Patrol
One of the key elements of this painting will be the border. This in and of itself is a new element for me. I'm really quite enjoying painting these little vignettes. I've alway said, "The difference is in the details". I having fun working in all this detail.
Lady Slipper
This Lady Slipper was a special request from a special person in my life. It was fun to paint, but it was also fun to think of her and the impact that she had on my life. I hope that she will find beauty in the painting and see her own beautiful heart in it as well. Lady Slipper is very fitting for her because has always been a wonderful example of a very gracious lady.
Daffodil
I'm still not in love with this one, but I knew it was going to give me troubles. I plan to do this one larger another time for a show in the spring. It was good practice.
Five Flora
I was challenged to collect and press five flowers. I imagined gathering all of the fabulous colors found everywhere here on the coast in the spring. However, life offered me a different option while we were camping in a ponderosa pine forest. It was in central Oregon in a high altitude, arid region. I was surprised to find a huge lack of flowers. So, instead of picking and pressing any colorful blossoms, I captured the local flora in a different way. These are life-size or larger than the originals.