Winding Down the Year

Milkweed pods (Asclepias syriaca), watercolor, 21"h x 14"w.

 

As I think about my activities on this blog in the past year, I'm surprised at the ways in which my garden has progressed over the course of these past twelve months. Not just the growing plants, the flowers and vegetables cultivated, but also the cultivation of my art, the work of the hands and mind which nourishes my spirit. I feel so fortunate to have these fountains of inspiration in my life!

The milkweed piece above was started in late November, and is well on it's way to being finished. The colored pencil drawing of the pumpkin Musquee de Provence is complete, as is the iris "Afternoon Delight."

 

Musquee de Provence, colored pencil, 10"h x 14"w.

The Flame Azalea and Pollinator watercolor I worked on over the summer was finally resolved with a very dark muted background--not sure just how successfully. I may deal with the same theme again next year with a traditional botanical white background just for the sake of comparison.

Flame Azalea and Pollinator, watercolor, 7.5"h x 10.5"w.

The Botanical Gourmet exhibition at the Athaneaum in Alexandria, which I organized and managed over the course of the past year, will be on display until Jan. 8, 2023. The show has received some positive mentions in articles in the Washington Post and the Metro Weekly. 

Painting my piece for this show, the Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin absorbed a good amount of time in the garden as well as in my studio. My learning of my subject took place over the course of a year, not unusual for botanical artists, who often study the plants they depict over a long period of time in order to observe the plant at all stages of its growth.

 

Exploding sketchbook.

 

Some of my projects from this year are still in my studio; I'm hoping to finish them sometime in the next few months before spring arrives. I never had a chance to add the summer and fall sketches for the exploding sketchbook, we'll see if it's possible for me to add a few more to it. This is one project that could stretch out over several years, just like my perpetual botanical journals. 

One more thing: I changed the blog banner again for a refreshed look in the New Year. Happy 2023!