BUTTERFLY

This butterfly painting was a class assignment for my Wednesday Studio group, and I am entering it in a student show that will be at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop starting June 7.  

I had a lot of fun doing it, and built up layers of paint and then was very loose with the backgound.  It is called a Red Spotted Purple Butterfly, but in the photo I had it is very blue and the spots were orange. 

TY SOPHIA

 

Still more flowers on Mother's Day.  This is a bouquet from Trader Joe's that Sophia brought to me...along with a bagel from "Call Your Mother," a neighborhood bake shop.  I put the flowers in a special vase that my mother bought for me when she had her first visit with Louisa.  We were in Vancouver BC then.  My mom aka "Gammy" would have been totally enchanted with Sophia...maybe even more than she was with Louisa and Jen. We'll never know as she died in 1993.  As you can tell, I still reflect on her on Mother's Day.  I feel sad that she didn't get to meet Max.  

The hearts are on a tablecloth I had on the table.  It really has hearts all over it, but I just included a few on this little thank you card.  

Thank you Sophia!

Fuschia!!! TY Smiths

                                                    
This fuschia plant was another Mother's Day gift.  I am catching up on getting them done and posted.   I had a lot of fun with this one because I sketched in the hanging planter, but not the leaves or flowers.  I did the flowers and leaves completely freehand in watercolor.  It was a lot of fun and I did it sitting outside with a view of the planter.  It is hanging from a stand under a tree and there are some shrubs and plants around it, but I decided the fuschia is the focus and so just did a loose background the color of the fence.

I love this plant and can see it from my kitchen window and love how the different times of day influence it.  It is hot today, but I just checked on it and it is doing fine.  I think they don't do very well in extreme heat so I need to keep checking.

Thank you Peter and Louisa.  I also got a tomato plant at the local nursery on the same trip when we found the fuschia...oh, and some basil seeds.  It is a great time of year.

THANKS TO THE BLUMS

Mother's Day celebrations expanded for me when I learned that Max Blum, the baby I gave up for adoption in 1969, was matched to me with a DNA test.  We learned about our relationship in March 2020.  We set up regular zoom calls to get to know each other and that was fun.  Even better, I was able to visit in June 2021 at their home in Santa Rosa, California, and meet him, his wife Sally (an actual California winemaker) and my grandchildren Violet and Roland.  Max is a designer.  It is all very very special!  I know "very very" is a writing no-no, but I can't resist.

This year they sent me some flowers in a nice vase that looks hand made.  Of course, I had to do a small watercolor card and send it.  Thank you, Blum family!.  I also got a very fun card.

Spring Fling

The Capitol Hill Art League has a monthly challenge for members and it is a lot of fun.  Artists can submit up to two pieces each and winners are selected.  The first prize winner each month is the juror for the next month.  No money, no prizes...just recognition.

I don't participate every month, but did during April when the challenge theme was Spring Fling.  The above painting is of Bleeding Hearts in my backyard.  I had fun keeping it loose and using a pencil outline.  

Below is my second painting for the month of pansies in a little vase I have.  I love the pansies, though the vase is a little "wonky" in the painting.  Fun to do.  No, these weren't "winners" in the challenge, but they were fun for me and not too complicated.