Perennials
Flowers are the most demanding subjects to draw — finding the subtle changes in color and texture, rendering the depth and structure and discovering their intimate secrets. To quote from Wendy Hollender, “Observing nature’s quiet beauty, structure and color is a wonderful way to learn to draw and experience nature at the same time.” The first four photos below are from a series of greeting cards I created. The last two were created as part of a Draw Botanical workshop: Roses & Peonies.
Above: Hydrangea Bouquet from my garden.
Below: Oriental Lily, Day Lily, Artichoke Thistle, Camellia, Peony, Organic Roses (a birthday gift from Grace Rose Farm)
Annuals
Zinnias have become an annual planting ritual in our community garden. I love their structure and colors and look forward to drawing them throughout July and August. Bee Balm don’t do well in the humidity of Washington, DC but thrive in my sister Madeline’s northern Wisconsin garden (which I refer to as Hart Hill Garden). At a drawing retreat there in early August, 2022, I immersed myself in their graceful leaves and shaggy splendor.
Tomatoes
There is something very satisfying about drawing heirloom tomatoes — capturing the folds of warm colors and the juicy inside. These drawings were created during my drawing retreat at Hart Hill Garden in August 2022.
