Tangled Tulips

I can't begin to tell you how many years it's been since I wanted to dig this whole mess up and move it but it's nothing I'm really able to do myself so I've made peace with just appreciating the struggle between the roses and the tulips as I document it with photos, drawings and paintings.

Many people want some of the rosebushes but none of them are willing to come over here and dig them up themselves.

I've gone from being upset about the situation to noticing the amazing contrast between the thorns and twisted stems of the roses and the fresh colors of the tulip leaves and budding flower.

So many birds and animals live and shelter in the thicket that these bushes have become that it would be a shame to disturb them so for at least another season things will remain as they are.

Painting Today

It's sunny and around 70 degrees so I'm planning to take that "dishes" painting out into the garden and begin painting some of the latest blooms and berries on it as china patterns.
I'll have a bit more coffee as I round up my supplies.
There's a lot of traffic this morning but I'll hardly notice it once I get started on the painting. That's one of the lovely things about doing the things you really love. Intensity, focus and passion can be a vacation of sorts from the rest of your day. If I'd ever chosen a career I think I'd have gone into art therapy because I know first hand how good it is for your heart, soul and spirit and I'd like to be able to share that with people.
Who knows, it wouldn't hurt to look into the training needed. I may get around to it yet...

Still Life Painting in Acrylics

I started this painting as soon as I cut my stargazer lily from the garden. Since I was working with the same vase as was in my last painting I turned it to get a different angle (the base of it is actually square) and I added a few of the other things I had with me to make a more interesting grouping. Many people have told me that the backgrounds I like To paint are too "busy" and take away from the flowers so I'm going for a more neutral and simple background here. This collection of photos is from the first 12 hours of work on this project and I'll post more as I get more of it done.

Lily in Blue and White China