Spring is springing! Flowers are out, and even though it’s still a little chilly sometimes, I am solar powered so I need to be outside. Ambrose the cat is whining SO much, perhaps he is solar powered too. Today I am going out to do some sketching and reading. I have a pile o books from the library and the need to break away from the technical botanical illustration I have been working on for the past couple months!

The tulip botanical illustration is complete. The technique is very challenging, but the class will certainly inform my work (especially on the flower series). The last class is next Sunday, and I think I will bring “Pussy Willow” for our critique and discussion. I’m just starting another piece in the flower series, but I’m not sure it will be ready in time. There are so many other things to do this week! My friend and co-worker, Victoria Singh, has a show at DADABASE (183 East Broadway) and her opening is this Friday from 8:30pm – 11pm. Come one, come all!

This is the final painting I am working on for the Botanical Illustration course, taken from the tulip studies I posted earlier. I am hoping to work on the leaves next class, but I am pretty happy with the flowers as they are. I didn’t get much painting or drawing done this long weekend, but I planted a bunch of seedlings and seeds in our outdoor pots. Spinach, radishes, oregano, lavender, nasturtium, and on and on. I might have been a little premature, but I can hardly wait for the warm weather. I swear I am solar powered.

Here’s yet another piece in the flower series! This one’s titled “Pussy Willow” and it’s 22″ x 28″. I am hoping I will find ample inspiration for this series in my own backyard this summer. Our landlords (who live above Josh and I) have been doing some large-scale gardening which currently involves a steaming pile of bark mulch in the front yard and a “fresh” pile of manure in the backyard under some bales of hay. Together, they create quite the atmosphere. Looks like there are all kinds of trees, plants, and veg to be planted so I am pretty curious how it will turn out. Until then, I have a great farm-girl outfit and a technical painting of a tulip for my Botanical Illustration class to keep me busy…