Spring time is arriving this weekend and I no longer want to paint snow or cold winter scenes. I need to see leaves, and color, and flowers. So as a salute to spring I post my Morning Glory's. Done as part of a WC challenge, I used paint values to define the petals and their creases. I found that a carefully placed touch of color can make an image more 3-dimensional. This piece got me into doing more "painterly" artwork, particularly with flowers.
I use to always grow both Morning Glorys and Moonflowers in the yard. For those who aren't familiar with Moonflowers, they are a white, somewhat larger version of the Morning Glory. And where the Morning Glory's bloom in the morning sun, the Moonflowers bloom very late in the day. I would plant them together and have them climb the same trellis - and I would have blooms all day long. They are not terribly difficult to grow - just nic the seed pod and soak overnight in water or a wet paper towel. Plant in a sunny place outdoors that will have room for them when they grow. These plants are prolific seeders, meaning all the spent flower pods produce an abundance of seeds that you can gather for the next year. (These plants are annuals so they will not return the next year). But you can repeat the planting process with the new seeds in the following year. Morning Glory's do come in a variety of colors, but I love the standard blue ones best. Somewhere I know I have a photo of my trellis garden, which I called "My Monet Garden" - if I can locate it, I will scan it & post. For now, enjoy the painted flowers!
Acrylic on canvas, 9x12
6 comments:
Nancy, this is so beautiful! I think one of my favorite flower paintings I've seen yet. I am drawn in by the blues and greens, my favorite color combination. I know morning glories are annuals and not perennials, but they do seem to come back year after year. I think they reseed themselves if left to their own devices. Or so it has been my experience. I've never split the seed but had good luck with just dropped dried seeds into little holes I poked in the ground. I am now of a mind to get some for this place. They really are beautiful!
one of my most favorite flowers. It almost looks like oil, with the texture of the flowers. A beauty.
Hi Nancie, This painting is beautiful. I think you have different morning glories than we do. Ours are perennials and VERY invasive. I planted one once because I love the flowers (ours are deep purple with shades of pink) but it grew about 3 feet a week and was covering everything. I finally took it out and decided it was one of those plants to be enjoyed in someone else's yard. : )
Thank you Sherry, Mary & Nancy for your kind words. Mary, thank you. I was trying to achieve a more "oil" look when I did this. I miss working with oils (I did oils many years ago). I may have to do them again, I miss their look.
It sounds like many artists are gardeners too! I may have to plant some of these again this year. Sherry, mine would self-seed, but not always. So I always planted more seeds on my own - the soaking only makes them sprout sooner. So if the growing season is on the short side, this step will get you to the flowers faster! Nancy - I'm not sure where you live. I'm in the northeast of NJ. Mine will not overwinter, and I wind up replanting seeds each year. I understand the term VERY INVASIVE though. I made a mistake some 10 years ago in planting peppermint. Still have them sprouting up all over - my neighbor has them now too!
Cackle cackle. You made me laugh with the story of your peppermint plant debacle. What does the neighbor think of those?
My neighbor, who does not like plants & their required care, keeps wondering where all these plants w/flowers are popping up from. I just smile & never say a word! ;)
Post a Comment