Garden Photos, Pencil and Marker

  Rather than relying on paints and colored pencil I thought I'd see what I could accomplish with just one pencil. I chose an H to avoid smudging.

The garden photo I'm using was of some petunias I had in the container garden last year.

The first results were nice but I decided to go over it again to darken the background and improve the contrast.

I found that I liked it a lot more after that.

Here are a few envelopes decorated with markers and a fountain pen. The tulips were based on another of my garden photos. 

These cards include photos of flowers cut from my garden placed next to the watercolors that I did from them.

Before and After with Two Dollars

 A friend gave me this stack of flower pots so I headed to the garden center to pick up some good container soil. That section was blocked off while they were loading shelves with a forklift so I'll head back there later on.

 While I was at the garden center these petunias were on sale, a six pack for 99 cents . As you can see, I bought 2. These are the only annuals that I bought this year.

I think they'll finish this planter off nicely, don't you?

The end of the Petunia Project

As you can see I've added a lot of detail since you saw this project yesterday and yes, I mailed this card to one of my sisters. I just love mail!!!

Here's the envelope. Wouldn't you like to see something like this at your mailbox? She's got the original but I'll be making a few products with the images in my  http://www.Zazzle.com/julia_art*  store so that you can enjoy them too.

Deja Vu and petunias too

I couldn't let the garden season pass without making one more attempt at capturing this years petunias on a note card and envelope. Yes, I'd already given last weeks away...and yes I scanned it first to see how it would work on products at zazzle. I figure that way the widest number of people possible get a chance to see, use or enjoy it. I find that more gratifying (and useful) than doing a gallery show. Yes, that's weird but so am I and it makes me happy...it makes lots of people happy, and isn't that the whole point?

Petunias in Watercolor and Photos

I took that photo of the petunia in my yard earlier this season and thought it was about time to try painting them.

I always start with a small painting in the corner of the envelope and then move on to a more complicated design for the card.

I haven't quite decided whether to leave this card at this point or to continue to work in more details. What do you think?

It's simple but bound to make the letter carrier and the recipient smile.