Almost gone
Posted: September 4, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 34 CommentsWith all the travelling I did in August, and a heat wave in Montreal, my garden is looking quite sad. But dead plants can be beautiful, especially if you contrast them with a few living ones. As they dry up, my Echinacea takes on a purplish brown colour, and I used it as an opportunity to try out some new products I received from our sponsors at the Urban Sketching Retreat a couple of weeks ago. A tube of Jadeite (a very deep green) from Daniel Smith makes the most beautiful granulation, especially when mixed with Lemon Yellow, Transparent Orange and Permanent Magenta.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
What a wonderful idea! We have been so dry here. Still have zinnias which are easy to paint
LikeLike
Your painting of Echinacea really moves me. Maybe it’s because it looks so much like the flowers in my garden in Winnipeg, or maybe because I am at the “past prime time” stage of life, but this painting speaks to me of life’s cycles. Thanks for this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jean, what a moving comment. I have written before about how much the landscape designer Piet Oudolf’s gardens have inspired me because of the many stages of the garden cycle he considers in his planning. The shapes of the withering Echinacea made me think of him. Thanks so much for writing.
LikeLike
These look so 3 dimensional. It’s like they are coming out of the computer screen. Beautiful.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Jeff!
LikeLike
Beautiful! You’ve given the dying plants eternal life! That new color sounds delicious!!!!
LikeLike
That colour is quite wonderful Gayle. Just about to try it in a bigger painting!
LikeLike
Love the transition from the bright green bottom leaves to the tops of the not so “lively” flowers at the top. Thanks for sharing another wonderful painting. Welcome home!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Denise. It’s nice to be back home, but I am still getting caught up after a full week!!
LikeLike
Lovely! The dark of the fading blooms is a nice contrast to those still surviving. Looked out my kitchen window today and saw four raccoons scurrying through the yard, up and down a tree, and then into the woods. (Mama and three young curious youngsters.)
LikeLike
HI Cindy.
Apparently we had a family of raccoons here too while I was away. I haven’t spotted them yet but sometimes one of them stands at my neighbour’s patio door, looking in.
I wonder what Alice would do if she saw a raccoon looking in!
Shari
LikeLike
Wonderful muted colors on the petals. I agree that flowers past their prime make lovely subjects.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Joan. I like playing with the soft colours on this paper. It’s great for subtle effects.
LikeLike
Shari, that is BEAUTIFUL! Is this a large painting? It would make beautiful cards. (I hope thats not offensive, I love to buy beautiful cards.) I paint some of mine but always willing to buy some eye catching beauties like yours.
LikeLike
Hi De,
Thanks for the idea. I also love cards, and that is a great idea.
I often buy Strathmore bland watercolour cards and then paint on my own designs, but you are right, these would be really nice on cards. I just may do that!
LikeLike
Beautifully done. Sometimes a few new supplies or colors can spark lovely surprises. Very, very nice!
LikeLike
Thanks Bernadette!
LikeLike
You’ve made them look so beautiful forever! I unfortunately killed my little lemon tree plant that was doing so well, but getting back to work I forgot to water! Time to start another seed. Like they say, when you get lemons (and my tree does have them!) make lemonaide!!
LikeLike
Marilyn, at least you live somewhere where you can grow a lemon tree. They would never survive in this climate. But yes, time for you to make lemonade!
LikeLike
Wow! Beautiful Shari!
LikeLike
Shari–thank you so much for telling us the colors you use. I am always amazed at how much you do with so little. This painting is gorgeous!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Lois!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Morning dear friend Shari,
Very beautiful and awesome.
The lovely color combination and brush strokes.
Very pleasant to look at.
Blessings
Uma
LikeLike
Thank you so much Uma.
LikeLike
Pretty combination.Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S9, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
LikeLike
thanks!
LikeLike
Oh. OH! WOW! I love how the colours play off each other. So beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you Dee!!
LikeLike
Delightful
LikeLike
thanks so much Tylara!
LikeLike
Beautiful. You are the greatest inspiration.
LikeLike
Connie, thank you…
LikeLike
Excellent study of flowers, my garden is still looking quite lush and although the tomato plants are slowing down, we are still getting plenty of cuccumbers, we have another flush of raspberries begginnig to form, and the Hosta Flowers are 3ft tall. I think we had our best garden ever, but it doesn’t have that much more time to go.
LikeLike
Thanks Shawn. It was a warm summer and I think most people were surprised with plentiful harvests. Sounds like you were too!! Enjoy the feast.
LikeLike