Pastel on paper, 22x40cm: "Foxglove 1"; This is the first drawing I made this morning using dry pastels boldly laying down some broad swatches of strong pink colour with the side of a stick then expressing the outline of the flowers with an analogeous but cooler violet. No hurry to capture the bees - they are visiting constantly. My next attempt takes a sideways view:
Neocolour on paper, 24x38cm: "Foxglove 2"; This time I'm using Neocolour II's. These are watersoluable and I love the colour range, the marks they make, and the feel of them. And there's that b again. Getting to know her personally by now! Finally for my last attempt I bring two different plants together from opposite sides of the garden: 
Neocolours on paper, 33x50cm: "Foxgloves"; Working to a much larger scale on an A2 sheet of cartridge paper I am less constrained and enjoy the drawing of these flowers even more, if that could be possible!
Finally, I return to dry pastels for this drawing of the Clematis 'The President':
Pastels on paper, 37x29cm: "The Last of The President"; All the other clematis flowers have dropped their petals and this is the "Last Man Standing". Two withered petals are clinging on, faded and curling, and soon to blow off with the next strong gust of wind. I am always fascinated by the deep red colour of the twining stalks. And even though it will be a whole year before I get to see these ladies again at least I have some images of their glorious short life to remind me of their beauty and graciousness.
2 comments:
you've caught the character of these beautifully :>)
Thanks Viv!
As a young student of Architecture (40 odd years ago) I was inspired by the flower and plant drawings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and have been drawing them ever since. I was having a look at your fabulous flower paintings on your website and realise that you make a much fuller image with background and setting, whereas I limit myself more to the sinuous lines. Must be the artist in you and the architect in me! :o)
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