The wonder of Poppies is that they are so delicate and so fleeting... They make me travel to my garden very often... so as not to miss their specialness...
which is good...
...as that several-times-a-day little walk... makes me aware of all the other things, that are about to happen... in the wonderland of a garden...
I wish I could make them last longer.... but it is their nature... some things, we have to accept... and enjoy in the moment...
Icelandic Poppy, Papaver nudicaule, 12 -24" tall, cup shaped flowers... textured like crepe paper... blooms all summer though most prolifically at the beginning of the season... drought resistant... grows well in poor soil and rarely troubled by pests...
Mature plants do not like to be transplanted... just let them reseed and young seedlings can be relocated as they appear.
This watercolor is approx. 4" x 4½" ....washes, india ink, brushes, fine dip pen on CP Arches 300 lb WC paper.
18 comments:
Hi Gwen, I'm going to try this again. I think blogger just deleted my comment so if you end up with two comments from me go ahead and erase one!
What I wanted to say was how much I needed this poppy today!! It is just the perfect reminder that summer is on it's way (Larry is outside snow blowing while I'm typing this!)
What a beautiful and delicate watercolor. You've captured the poppy perfectly and your contour lines provide the perfect definition and fluidity. Icelandic poppies grow wild here and are so dense in spots that it reminds me of the poppy fields in the Wizard of Oz. And you are right about their fleeting nature. I guess that's what makes them all the more special.........their intense colors and their brevity.
Great painting!!! Thank you.
so loose and flowy and beautiful!! I love them too, we have them all over right now near where I live. Oddly enough, that is one plant I don't have on my property. If it can fend for itself it can't stay. Now I'm not mean or anything but just busy.
I use to plant annuals and other plants just to have them not make it through the summer with our very bad soil. My trick now is to let the wild plants that take root in my yard grow, and those that are near decks, etc., I trim and it actually looks like they were planted.
Saves a lot of money and the birds like them too.
I love that painting, so soft..
s
Hi Sharon, Glad you made it through the storm with no more damage.
You and Sandy are so lucky to have these flowers growing wild everywhere... If I want them here I have to baby them along... but I love them so much I will do it for them...
I really do love having plants that fend for themselves... and I really encourage the shrubs that grow here naturally... two of my favourites are Mountain Ash and the Elderberry... They both flower too!!
thanks, you two!!!
'Ahhhhh poppies! Poppies should do the trick, poppies, poppies....."
Said the Wicked Witch of the west in a crackly old witch voice. (The Wizard of OZ.)
Your poppy is lovely and witches must like them too! lol
hey Anet...love your excerpt from the "Wizard of Oz"...
Ahhh bring on the witches!!
This is a beautiful watercolour. I have never been any good at painting flowers. Your poppy is something to aspire to.
The deep tones of your poppy are so rich, just lovely. I do love these flowers too. And I really like what you have said about getting out into the garden often to see the changes. We see it with our plants, and with the chicks. If I don't get out and look at 'Chick TV' (as Don calls it) every day, they have changed too much the next time I see them.
I've heard poppies can really take over. Maybe yours will too, eventually, but no more than you want, I hope.
Your poppies are great. Wonderful subject. Plus the last post about quilting really touched my heart. This 'womens' art is so underrepresented in the art world. I have several lovely examples past down that continue to inspire me. My 91 year old mom, in a nursing home, sometimes remembers that I'm an artist. She wonders where did this talent come from? I tell her from all the wonderful handmade items her mother and my other grandmother made. Not the whole truth but perhaps accurate enough.
Ruth, I hope they do take over ... poppies every where ...I'd be in my glory!!!
Thank you, Gillian, ... do you have these poppies in Scotland?
Bill that is really wonderful that you appreciate a creation such as a quilt... many men don't get it... they take it as 'just something women do to keep their hands busy'... But that is the artist in you!!! thank you for sharing your thoughts...
Bill's comment is so cool! Must have made his mum feel comforted that he recognizes her talents.
s
That's beautiful...
I love poppies: your watercolours are beautiful .... :0)
You have such a wonderful and free style of painting, such beauty comes from your hands. I also love poppies, I wish they could bloom here all summer! Roxanne
Hi Gwen. In answer to your question about these poppies in Scotland - no, we don't have Icelandic poppies but we do have several other varieties including Welsh, Californian, Opium and Common poppies. I have three of these varieties in my garden and love to see them flower. They are all so beautiful.
Thank you Jazz and Shirl and Roxanne and Gillian.. for the encouragement...
I am always interested in knowing the plants that are native to all the varying locals and seeing how nature influences everyone.
Beautiful! Watercolours and poppies are two of my favourite things. :)
thanks Sherrie, have you ever tried making poppy seed soap or maybe it would not have a special purpose... maybe they could be used as a scrub?
probably look nice though...
Such a beautiful watercolor. You have really captured the essence of poppy!
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