Deborah’s garden
Posted: August 9, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: flower painting, millford paper, St. Cuthberts Mill, watercolour 14 CommentsMy friend Deborah has an incredible garden — swathes of perennials, apple trees, carefully tended shrubs, exotic lilies and colourful annuals flowering in containers of different sizes. I think late July or early August is the best time to visit.
When I visited her last week I had a bit of time to paint in the garden, with Alice happily sleeping by my side. I chose to sit on a low stool and look right into the flower beds. Instead of focussing on one section of the painting, I tried to convey the beautiful pattern of daylilies (at my eye level) and daisies (a little above me).
I’ve been trying out some new stock: Millford watercolour paper from St. Cuthberts Mill in the UK. I bought a block a few weeks ago and have used it (and enjoyed it) a couple of times. You can read about the features of the paper in my link, but basically it is sized so that the paper stays wetter longer. As with all cotton papers from that mill, this is really nice to work on and it does indeed stay wetter longer even on a warm summer day.
While entire painting is lovely, it was the lilies that stopped me in my tracks. They were the most wonderful colour and they looked almost velvety and rich. A prize!
I enjoyed the undershadows on the topmost daiseys – together, the whole daisey patch dances with light! As always your depth is spot on – back to front, top to bottom. Lillies in front says so much – thanks a bunch!
Nice bright colors!
We’re currently in a heat advisory so having paper that stays wet longer is a good thing! Interesting perspective to get down on the level of the flowers. I’ll have to try that with my garden.
Wonderful painting! I do feel like I’m right in there with the bees and butterflies.
Love the perspective. Amazing painting around the white blooms! Thanks for sharing! I always learn something in your paintings!
I love the perspective, beautifully done!
Lovely to see how you approached the flowers…up close and personal. This is lovely!
These flowers and your painting is really beautiful!
This is so beautiful…..what I admire so much about your work is your ability to see negative spaces. I have tried so hard to paint the stems, leaves and spaces between but my brain explodes and I get lost in the weeds so to speak. What keeps you focused….any ideas to help this negative space challenged brain.
I still have wonderful memories of painting with you, in Montreal with Mark Holmes, and at a lovely property can’t remember the name east of Ottawa , and Bluffington SC.
Lovely!
It’s beautiful Shari! Did you do a background wash first or negative painting with the flowers or both?
Wonderful painting. Love the colours in the lilies with the white daisies behind. Nice to have a friend with beautiful flowerbeds.
I am in awe! Your masterful variety of greens and negative painting in the foliage is inspiring! And it’s so fresh and not overworked. I love the point of view…another gem from you , Shari!