Winter hosta
Posted: November 19, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 16 CommentsThis post should really be called “The stuff I haven’t done ’cause I’ve been sketching”. Transferring these perennials to a hole in the ground before winter really sets in is one of many chores on a long list in my head. But who wants to do that stuff when you can paint instead? I know I have painted these pots before — there are spring and fall renditions — but the long winter shadows were too beautiful to resist. And the chores, well, they will get done eventually.
You have sure captured this glorious day with the sunshine dancing on the frozen
earth and winter pots. It will be fun to see how you paint them covered with snow!
I was going to put them away but I think I will have to leave them out until the snow falls.
Very carefully observed shadows.
Love the bark texture and colors. We are having the same clear sunny days here in NH.
Thanks Sue Anne. It is a bit worrisome that we have had a very dry November. I think the trees need some rain as protection in the winter.
I am always entranced by these little domestic scenes that you elevate above the commonplace. The light and shadows dancing around the pots is a big part of the delight.
Valerie, on some days I have such a hard time figuring out what to sketch and I admit, I waste a lot of time. But every time I see these little pots they look inviting. Plus I am sitting at my kitchen counter looking out, instead of in my car.
I really like this series… I remember the fall rendition clearly, but I will have to go back and remind myself what the spring one was like.
In this one, I particularly like the way the sunlight/shadow wraps around the tree trunk. And I agree with Mary… I would like to see a version with snow, but I think it would look better with the plants sticking up through the snow… so there, now you have a request and an excuse to do absolutely nothing with the either the pots or plants.
This one is not as detailed as either the spring or the fall one and it is on a smaller sheet of paper. But I think the scans don’t do justice to either of those previous versions. They are much nicer on paper than on screen.
You probably don’t know this coming from a warm country but if I leave the hostas in the pots all winter, they will be dead by spring. I need to bury them in the ground for survival, I am pretty sure. But I can remove the plants and leave the pots so we can see what they look like buried in snow.
I always suspected that the scans would never really capture the subtleties of the originals… that has always been my experience when scanning. And, I had thought that you were working less in the Moleskine (by the absence of the two dark corners on the scans)… so why is that?
And, regarding burying plants for survival… sounds strange, but I will just have to take your word for that one.
I try to get as close as I can with the scans but watercolour can be so subtle. It is hard to get them accurate. I suppose if I had a super calibrated monitor and I adjusted a lot in Photoshop I could get it closer but that would probably take more time than the sketch itself.
As for the Moleskine, you are right. I am trying to work on better paper (real watercolour paper) for two reasons. 1. It is better paper so it will take more wash and the washes will granulate better. 2. Eventually I would like to sell more of my work than I keep and since I don’t want to cut up my books, the sketches need to be on paper.
Selling some paintings… that sounds like a good idea. Now, at the risk of getting one of those exasperated answers like “I can barely keep up with the present posts…”, why don’t create a “Works for Sale” page on the blog? You can put it right next to the new FAQ page… perhaps in a few weeks when your semester ends. : )
I was thinking about a works for sale page but then I wondered if I should do it on a separate site like Etsy. Payments might be easier that way. I will have to investigate, when I have more time.
I am jealous! Sun and shadows! We are about to start counting the animals two by two
here in Portland. I love the colors,Shari.Is this a limited palette as well? The violet shadows
are really wonderful.
This is a limited palette again. I am trying many variations on this theme. I think I used violet, raw sienna, burnt sienna mostly. But maybe there was some blue in there too. I’m sorry to hear about all the rain. I did see some Urban Sketchers posts about it. This is very unusual for us. It feels like winter but it is so dry.
Oh, how right you are. In a hundred years no one will know if you were late in doing the chores, or if they were even done at all. But they will see the paintings & drawings and be grateful that your priorities were straight.
John, that is one of the most touching comments I have received for my posts. I read it this morning and didn’t have time to respond but every once in a while during my day I would think about this and smile. Thank you.