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First blooms

Posted: April 18, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized |20 Comments

While I was in California the first crocuses popped out of the ground and bloomed. When the sun came out today, I ran out there with my easel and a few tubes of gouache (which I haven’t used in ages) to capture their beauty. I should have been raking last year’s oak leaves instead but I couldn’t resist the little purple flowers, and of course that raking can wait until later.

I was trying out a brand new pad of Hahnemuhle Toned Watercolor Paper, which I suspect I will use more for gouache than for watercolour. It has a beautiful beige colour and a slightly textured surface, and when I’m working with gouache it’s always nice to start with a toned surface so the the whites really stand out.

20 Comments on “First blooms”

  1. lois says:
    April 18, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    I think brown and purple is my new favorite color combination. Beautifully captured, Shari.

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  2. Charles Friedman says:
    April 18, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    Stunning

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  3. Northern Traveller says:
    April 18, 2022 at 5:39 pm

    Ah gouache welcomes you back :). Lovely choice for the crocuses (croci?) Shari.

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  4. beth says:
    April 18, 2022 at 5:46 pm

    i love this color combo

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  5. Gretta says:
    April 18, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! So vibrant on the toned paper!

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  6. larkintn says:
    April 18, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    I’m fascinated at how you captured the leaf detritus in the background- that is always beyond my skill set! Oh, and new thinking is to not clear out the old leaves until nighttime temperatures are 50 degrees Fahrenheit consistently- little critters, including those that turn into buttery, need that cover!

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    • Shari Blaukopf says:
      April 18, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      That’s good to know, about the leaves. I usually don’t pick them up too early because I try to protect the perennials, but I had no idea about the little critters. Makes sense, of course.

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  7. Joan Tavolott says:
    April 18, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    Lovely capture! I’m glad you didn’t miss them…and yes, the raking can wait.

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  8. Betsy says:
    April 19, 2022 at 12:50 am

    All these posts and sketches are just great! And as always, a calming refuge from the horrors everywhere for a little while.

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  9. Barb says:
    April 19, 2022 at 1:02 am

    That’s really beautiful. Love the toned paper, too!

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  10. Laura Kate says:
    April 19, 2022 at 9:58 am

    Thanks for sharing about the paper. I really like its influence on your resulting painting.

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