flowers – Page 12 – Africantapestry

Posted on June 20, 2007August 22, 2007 by Myfrenchkitchen

Touches of yellow

I have nothing yellow in my garden. But I have white flowers with touches of yellow.
Two vignettes from the garden done in their setting, in bright sunlight.
A white Hemerocallis, the only one in flower.
Done in WC in moleskine.

I also have Feverfew(Chrysantemum parthenium), a small camomile-like white daisy with bright yellow centre. They make a wonderful display in the herb garden, and work wonders on a migraine, they self sow profusely and look beautiful picked by the armsful.

My goal with both these paintings was to keep them light and fresh by incorporating the white paper as part of the composition. With the feverfew, I used more “dabbing” of color, since that is how I perceive them in the garden.

Done in WC in moleskine. Posted by Africantapestry at 6:39 PM

Sharon said…: These are gorgeous! I really love the loose, simple style and colors mixed on the paper.; June 20, 2007 7:20 PM
Kunya said…: Wow, what abeautiful work. I just bought some books about the work of Charles Reid. This paintings, especialy the first one, reminds me of the book. Great work.; June 20, 2007 7:21 PM
Lynn said…: Oh my, these are lovely! I really like the fresh, spontaneous feel of these paintings. The feverfew are gorgeous.; June 20, 2007 8:21 PM
Teri C said…: Definitly spontaneous, definitly loose and defintly WONDERFUL!!!; June 20, 2007 9:01 PM
Jenny said…: My favorite is the first one though both a lovely, loose, and colorful.; June 20, 2007 10:11 PM
Dave said…: Superb. The colours are lovely!; June 20, 2007 10:46 PM
Lin said…: Ronnell — fresh, lively, colorful, glorious — all of this and more!! Your daylily is absolutely breathtaking!! I AM IN LOVE with the various hues within it — and I too grow feverfew — but never again — I find it takes over too MUCH of the garden! GRAND JOB!!!!!!; June 21, 2007 2:23 AM
bec said…: oooh! I love these drawings…. I have lilies and feverfew also. I’ve got big bouquets all over the house. Question: how do you USE the feverfew for a migraine? make a tea and drink it? sniff the leaves? I’m interested in knowing…Thanks!
BEC; June 21, 2007 4:11 AM
biteyourowntail said…: Lovely – I particularly like the way that blue makes the yellow sing in the second painting – makes me think of late summer, and lazy afternoons in the shade.; June 21, 2007 10:18 AM
caseytoussaint said…: These are just wonderful – fresh and lively and full of color. I definitely see a resemblance to the lovely, loose florals of Charles Reid, although they are your own personal style. How do you find the time to et all this done? You’ve been so productive lately.; June 21, 2007 11:23 AM
Regula Scheifele said…: lovely loose dreamy vibrant lively fresh…
WOW; June 21, 2007 12:30 PM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: Oh my gosh!!! These are BEAUTIFUL Ronell.; June 21, 2007 3:08 PM
Robyn said…: Beautiful dancing lines, sparkling white and a fairytale touch with the colours, Ronell. I long to paint so instinctively.; June 21, 2007 5:20 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for all the inpspiring comments..
Bec – I take infusions. Normally it is advised to dry the leaves, but I forget, so I just take two or three leaves and let them infuse for a thirty minutes. It is best to take the infusion regularly. You can chew the leaves, but apparently they easily cause mouth sores, so I have never tried that…
Robyn – you are a poet.
Ronell; June 21, 2007 5:35 PM
Deborah said…: Ohh, these are so fresh and light! I love the techniques you used here. You must have a great garden.; June 21, 2007 7:31 PM
Serena said…: Both are beautiful in their own right, Ronell. I love the loose, airy feel you have achieved and the splashes of colour are divine!; June 21, 2007 10:29 PM
Lindsay said…: These last few sketches are so beau;tiful and fresh. They truley capture summer!; June 22, 2007 2:37 AM
Sandy said…: I looked at them enlarged and they are so free flowing. So gorgeous. I would love to walk through your garden some day.wow.. Ronell, thanks for all your comments…they are appreciated… I just love coming here to see what you’ve been up to, when I’m out sweating in the dirt in my garden. haha. I keep thinking I want to go outside and paint but somehow it never works. How do you do it??; June 22, 2007 5:15 AM
Tea & Margaritas in My Garden said…: Just lovely! Sure wish I had your talent.tea
xo; June 22, 2007 10:38 AM
Pequete said…: These are lovely, Africantapestry! I love your loose style and I wish I could paint as freely as you.; June 22, 2007 11:58 AM
hfm said…: Great!; June 22, 2007 11:20 PM
Tonniece said…: beautifully done Ronell. Light and fresh, very summery; June 23, 2007 3:03 AM
phthaloblu said…: Simply gorgeous! All those colors and shadows and details. Well done!; June 23, 2007 11:19 PM
Laureline said…: Happy, happy, loose and lively work! I LOVE them! You’re so in your element!; June 23, 2007 11:46 PM
Carole said…: Lovely colours, Ronell, particularly in the feverfew. I have tried chewing the leaves for a headache, but they tasted so rotten I think I preferred the headache.; June 24, 2007 1:45 PM
janey said…: These are lovely sketches. So colorful and full of summer.; June 25, 2007 6:48 PM
Fanta said…: Lovely, cheerful and extremely fresh! So well done.; June 26, 2007 10:29 PM
luci said…: The flowers are lovely, Ronell. Chrysanthemum is my favorite flower. The florist wasn’t too happy when I insisted on chrysanthemums only bouquet for my wedding. It bothered his artistic taste, I think. I remembered he used variety of chrysanthemums, and feverfew was one of them. I’m happy to see the beautiful feverfew you painted.

Posted on June 9, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

Urns and tennis

I have a passion for urns…Medici, cast iron, soapstone, old stone…I love their shape and touch and smell, their poise and nobility. While I watched the tennis today, my hands looked for something to do. Since I’ve been longing to do a few urns for some time now, I thought I should start right away with the first one, an old French cast iron urn. The first painting is oil on linen which I did a few years ago.It is close to my heart.

This next one is one of three watercolors I did while watching the ladies final at Roland Garos this afternoon. I wanted to go for the same composition as the oil just for comparison. This was the last of my attempts and probably the one closest to what I intended. Maybe because by this time the tennis result was a clear cut thing, no doubt who the winner would be, so my attention was mostly on the paper.The shape is awkward though, but that doesn’t bother me too much. I’m never too fixed on realism. My watercolors are a bit sloppy lately, but my goal is to bring more expressionism into them, to accentuate color more and the big one …to fiddle less

This sketch comes in second. I’m not happy with it, although there is something that makes me look at it again. It is very wild and uncontrolled, dark a with lot of confusing leaves….that actually sounds very much like my mind…. or it could be the tennis. By this stage in the match, it was a very one-sided gameAnd finally, my first attempt right at the beginning of the match, when I still thought it was going to be a tough battle and my attention was eagerly turned more to the game.

There is really no interest in this one, very flat and floating with no excitement. After these attempts I had enough of this urn, however much I love it. I’ll try some others for next time

22 comments:

Dave said…: Interesting exercise to paint the same thing three times. I like all of them, but I think I agree with your order of preference. The oil is outstanding!; June 9, 2007 7:43 PM
Renate said…: I’m in love with the oil painting. There is something very intriguing in it. Maybe the way you get the light … Don’t know. But it’s great!; June 9, 2007 7:59 PM
Sandy said…: Love the oil painting too and of the three, my favorite is the bottom one…just gorgeous. But…I’m still thinking about that outdoor kithen and alfresco cooking…yum…I’m hungry..; June 9, 2007 9:35 PM
🙂 Silvia said…: All of the paintings are great, but the first one is really outstanding :)!! It’s understandable that you are very fond of it.; June 9, 2007 11:18 PM
Robyn said…: The urn was the winner on the day. Beautiful all ways. I love the oil – awesome, but my favourite of your ‘tennis’ paintings is the first one. Smashing!; June 9, 2007 11:18 PM
janey said…: Yes the oil is excellent but actually my favorite is the last one. I like the freedom and the colors.; June 10, 2007 12:43 AM
Jenny said…: I like them all, and there’s no reason for me to pick one over the others. :)Sports on television cannot hold my attention and something else to do must me found. Needlework is my usual choice if it’s at an uncomplicated point.; June 10, 2007 2:07 AM
caseytoussaint said…: Ronell, whenever I stop paying attention I miss another fabulous post! this is great, I’ve always loved that oil, and it looks wonderful here – I think my favorite of the watercolors is the last one – it looks like you’re sure of your subject and know where you wanted to go with it, maybe because the composition is a bit simpler. Delightful.; June 10, 2007 4:56 PM
Lindsay said…: Wow! You have an amazing eye for detail! Great wc sketches too.; June 10, 2007 4:58 PM
Jana Bouc said…: hese are all amazing and I’m so envious of your oil technique. I think my favorite images of the urn though are the first one (the oil) and the last one. The surface of the urn in the oil is perfect and it looks so weighty and substantial. The values in the last watercolor image are just right and it really stands out.; June 11, 2007 6:45 AM
hfm said…: Love your persistency… and for me they are good and transparent as I like them.; June 11, 2007 10:40 AM
Anita said…: Oh Ronell, we share a passion. I can’t pass an urn or a column or ballistrade without running my hands along it’s curves…Which can be rather embarassing for those who are with me at times. LOL!
Your paintings are beautiful. The oil is exceptional and the watercolours show your personality, knowledge of subject and love of colour.
Truly gorgeous!; June 11, 2007 12:40 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for your commenst…I rellay apprecieate it.
Ronell; June 11, 2007 4:09 PM
Bonny said…: Fabulous, Ronell! To me, all the urn sketches are interesting for their own sake. I don’t think I’ve ever concentrated on drawing one thing several times to compare the results. Neat idea!; June 11, 2007 4:21 PM
Laureline said…: Hey, I love that last one—so what am I, chopped liver?? The whole group is such fun to see and, as always, your narrative is charming and compelling, too.; June 11, 2007 8:10 PM
Sandy said…: Each rendition is wonderful in it’s own – I cannot sit still to do the same subject repeatedly but this shows how much variety can be achieved – Great work as always.; June 11, 2007 8:17 PM
wagonized said…: Such an intricate shape to draw / paint. The first one blows me away, quite simply. I think oil is very appropriate for the weight of the urn.; June 12, 2007 5:22 AM
Carole said…: How do you find the patience to paint the same thing three times! You must learn a lot from doing so. I love the differences in these three paintings, and they all have characteristics that I like. I like the loose expressive style and think you’ve achieved it well. My favourite is, of course, the oil painting. It’s simply stunning.; June 12, 2007 6:31 PM
Tonniece said…: As always lovely pieces. The oil painting is wonderful Ronell.; June 13, 2007 11:13 PM
Andrew said…: wowoowwww these are just awesome…so did you watch much of the match:>; June 14, 2007 12:01 AM
Serena said…: WOW! I’m flat out painting something once let alone four times. The oil is my absolute favourite but the other’s are vibrant with colour and flair. Well done, Ronell ~; June 20, 2007 6:20 AM
platitudinal said…: I love how your paintings give us hints of your self, Ronell. Today we learn that you have a passion for urns and the reason behind it.Your talent never ceases to amaze me.

Posted on May 1, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

A handful of happiness

“Je porte bonheur”.. .says this little bunch of muguets(lily of the valley). A beautiful custom in France is to give a small bouquet of these to anyone and everyone you want to, on the 1st of May, that way, wishing good luck and happiness to all. Of course it is also a public holiday..worker’s day I think in English. Since I love the idea, I’m offering this bouquet of muguets to all EDM- friends – to those with special projects for May, like a drawing a day, to those who have a work on exhibit, to those who wish to exhibit, to those whom we’re voting for everyday, to those who are wonderful professional artists, to those who are doing art for the fun and joy it brings them, to those who started up this great site, to those who keep it up faithfully and in great spirit week after week, to those who add fun and joy , originality, spirit and character to this art site….to all who participate and bring beauty to look at, inspiring words to read, jokes to laugh at, advice to grow….to all at EDM; wishes of happiness to you all in this beautiful month of May!

35 comments:

น้ำธรรมดา said…: It’s very beautiful …
i like your work..
Don’t you mind if i add you to be my link.
Thank you 😉; May 1, 2007 11:30 AM
Kunya said…: Hi Ronell, thanks… I like this idea. We have this custom in Belgium too, although I do not see this as much anymore…maybe one reason is these little flowers are far to overpriced this day. I realy like this drawing.; May 1, 2007 11:39 AM
Laureline said…: Merci, Ronell! Et a vous, aussi, mes voeux de bonheur!; May 1, 2007 11:46 AM
Pequete said…: Thank you Ronell, I found you through EDM and I love your work – I actually identify a lot with it, since I also love working with watercolours and ink. I’ll be visiting you often!; May 1, 2007 12:21 PM
Lin said…: WOWZA!! What a wonderful tradition and even more glorious painting!!! THANK YOU!! You’ve begun the month in splendor!; May 1, 2007 12:31 PM
Tonniece said…: Hi Ronell
I love this tradition, I only wish they did that here in Canada. And to make it even more special My Birthday is this mo. so THANK YOU.
As always you painting is wonderful.; May 1, 2007 1:24 PM
Felicity said…: Beautiful painting as always Ronell, those tiny flowers look so cute! I’ve seen these lily of the valley all over the shops recently – is it the tradition to give only those? I would never have known if it wasn’t for your post, thank you. Hope you have a super day!; May 1, 2007 2:17 PM
jill said…: beautiful work. thank you for the great way to start “may day”!; May 1, 2007 4:10 PM
Bonny said…: Ronell, this tradition is also in parts of Italy. When my husband first began dating me, he looked through all the flower shops in the city to find me un petit bouquet de muguets. They are not usually sold in shops here in Canada. They are easier to find in the garden, but by now they are past their season here on the west coast. Thank you for such a lovely reminder of a very beautiful tradition.; May 1, 2007 4:40 PM
Sandy said…: Thank you Ronell – I picked a sprig of Lilly of the Valley on this morning’s walk. May 1 is my grandmother’s birthday (deceased) and I have very fond memories of picking bouquets of these tiny flowers from her huge patch in her back yard AND I intended to sketch them today in her honor!! What a coincidence! I love the holiday you have attached to them and ON this date. Merci!!; May 1, 2007 6:13 PM
Sarah said…: What a beautiful gesture – in every way!; May 1, 2007 6:15 PM
juj said…: What a wonderful tradition and such a fabulous painting. You’ve captured them perfectly. Thank you for sharing. Sadly, I’m afraid these are the only lily of the valley I will get to see this year as ours got snapped by a late frost. Would it be possible for you to send along a little of the sweet fragrance as well?? (grin); May 1, 2007 6:31 PM
Ujwala said…: good luck and happiness to you too! nice to learn about different traditions and customs. great ink ‘n wash.; May 1, 2007 6:31 PM
Deborah said…: Thank you very much! When I was a kid we always celebrated May Day, also the 1st, by picking our mothers roses and leaving flowers for all the neighbors inclucing mom of course!; May 1, 2007 6:40 PM
Genine said…: Ronell,Beautiful drawing and a big thank you for bringing this holiday to my attention. It has definitely brightened a gray day here. I think I’ll stop on my way home and pick some up.; May 1, 2007 7:12 PM
bec said…: Thank you Ronell!
Happy May day to you too! (that’s what we call it here in the US). Nobody gets a day off though. My lily- of-the-valley aren’t in bloom yet. They usually start blooming around mother’s day… May 13. another week or two. I always give a bouquet of them to my mother!
I like the transparent quality of your painting.Bec; May 1, 2007 7:37 PM
Robyn said…: Beautiful idea, beautiful brushwork. Thank goodness you have sent me these, because I didn’t get any others. What have I done?!;); May 1, 2007 8:22 PM
Dave said…: That’s a very generous sentiment, and a lovely painting. Thank you!; May 1, 2007 9:19 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thanks to everybody!
Ronell; May 1, 2007 9:27 PM
Carole said…: Thank you, Ronell! And a happy May Day to you too. This is a beautiful painting and a joyful sentiment which I most wholeheartedly echo.Now then – how did you manage to hold this and paint it at the same time? 🙂; May 1, 2007 10:15 PM
platitudinal said…: Thank you for the beautiful May Day posy, Ronell. And all the good hearted and gracious wishes that comes with it. Thank you 😉; May 2, 2007 12:01 AM
martín said…: Ronell, there’s not much to add. The others have already said it all for me. Beautiful drawing and WCs, as always, and a REALLY BIG THANK YOU for your sincere wishes! All the best to you too.; May 2, 2007 2:38 AM
Stacy said…: Ronell, what a lovely painting and a lovely sentiment! We don’t have this tradition in the United States. I wish we did!! I am glad I at least got to experience it here.; May 2, 2007 3:07 AM
Linda said…: Beautiful custom and beautiful painting! You have a great sense of color and value — you always get your darks just right. And in this piece, it makes the little flowers look all the sweeter. Again, beautiful!
🙂; May 2, 2007 4:00 AM
nik said…: Ronell, they are wonderful. We have some of them in the garden, but I did not manage to draw them. Perhaps today.; May 2, 2007 6:20 AM
mARTa said…: I smiled this morning when i read your post and saw the lovely lilies. It’s my 31st wedding anniversary today so I tucked the tiny flowers near my heart and thought of what happiness this life has brought me. thank you for the reminder:); May 2, 2007 7:46 AM
caseytoussaint said…: what a nice idea, and a beautiful painting.; May 2, 2007 12:42 PM
Ben said…: Merci beaucoup…c’est tres jolie…and thats all my five years of french have done for both of us:>; May 2, 2007 1:21 PM
mchunt@wctel.net said…: Merci beaucoup…c’est tres jolie…and thats all my five years of french have done for both of us:; May 2, 2007 1:28 PM
Lindsay said…: Aw,Ronell, what a lovely gift. THanks so much for the beautiful bouquet and words. Happy May 1!; May 2, 2007 3:59 PM
phthaloblu said…: What a beautiful custom and even more beautiful sentiments! Merci beaucoup! Forgive my rusty, stunted French.; May 2, 2007 5:40 PM
Emma Pod said…: This is a beautiful little sketch! Happy May to you and may you have a wonderful summer playing tennis!; May 2, 2007 11:43 PM
Mommy Bee said…: Ronell,Thank you so much. Your thoughtfulness, and beautiful bouquet really touched me.As a child growing up, my mom taught my brother and I to make “May Day” baskets. We would hand make a little basket out paper and put little wild flowers in them. Then we would go ding-dong-ditch the neighbors…Leaving behind only the flower loaded basket.Thank you for the memory, and sharing your custom. Not so different from mine ;-).; May 3, 2007 8:49 PM
suzanne said…: Thank you so much for such a beautiful sentiment! May you have a wonderful day as well.; May 4, 2007 3:08 AM
E-J said…: And we say “thank you for the muguet” 😀 This is a lovely post, Ronell, and a lovely sketch. I am reminded of the lily-of-the-valley perfume my grandmother used to wear … I haven’t thought of it for years … thank you.

Posted on April 23, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

The details of a wisteria

The wisterias are magnificent now, their beauty cascading over walls and pergolas and trees and gates, windows and towers, roofs and even pathways. I just had to take on a painting or two, try and capture a little of their glory.

I tried twice again, not being too happy with the first try. I took on another corner, more “architectural”, more detailed, brighter colors, with which I am quite content..it feels like “me”.

And I just can’t get away from it- detail- I need detail. Without it, I can’t stress. I can’t be obsessive compulsive. Without detail in my life, I can’t experience beauty. I can’t create beauty. Without detail, life is very foggy and leaves only an impression of what might be out there…very much like the first painting of these wisterias.

Watercolor and ink on Arches HP
23 x 31cm (9″ x 12″)

14 comments:

Fanta said…

Wonderful again, Ronell. I love the way the shadows “dance” on the wall surface created by your careful layering, especially in the first one.
Have a great Sunday!

April 22, 2007 2:01 PM

Lindsay said…

I like how you do these a couple of times! Lovely job.
I’ve been trying to get my wisteris to bloom for YEARS. Stubborn things refuse to flower.

April 22, 2007 5:14 PM

Teri C said…

You are persistant arn’t you! The signs of a good detail person….I recognize it because that’s me too.Those wisteria are wonderfu and beautiful. So glad you persisted to your satisfaction.BTW, I was just reading about creativity and a detail person is called “bios’ or the dteails of life, and the person that has an overview of things is called ‘zoe’ or the essence of life.

Hmm, I bet that is more information than you wanted! 🙂

April 22, 2007 6:43 PM

Lin said…

GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS!!!! The frost nipped ours and I haven’t seen much since then — so I am thoroughly enjoying yours!! Did you know you can eat the flowers?? BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT THE SEEDS!!

April 22, 2007 11:13 PM

Lin said…

PS — I’M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU AND DETAIL … MAKES ME SO UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN I LEAVE IT OUT!!! Hard to learn to live with simlicity — i do love the detail!!! lol

April 22, 2007 11:14 PM

Dave said…

I love wisteria, and you’ve really captured it in these lovely pictures!

April 22, 2007 11:36 PM

beautiful! i LOVE wisteria and the draping laziness of it. great pictures!

April 23, 2007 1:59 AM

Nancy said…

Love the wisteria – I, too, have been trying to get mine to bloom – they are 9 years old now. Is there any hope?These a gorgeous!

April 23, 2007 5:13 AM

aPugsLife-laserone said…

Oh my gosh, I just love these! My favorite is the first one. I’m such a sucker for blue. Very beautiful! 🙂

April 23, 2007 9:26 AM

caseytoussaint said…

These are both beautiful, but the second one does more to convey the delicacy of wisteria – such a tough subject.

April 23, 2007 10:59 AM

Sandy said…

I love Wisteria and mine is huge, but never blooms !!!!! I want to paint them too!!! Just Lovely! You have been busy!

April 23, 2007 5:07 PM

Carole said…

I’m another wisteria fan, and I agree that you’ve really got the essence of wisteria in this second painting. The twisted branches and those wonderful long cascades of blue/lilac flowers. I once painted the detail of just one of those tiny little flowers – I may post it on my blog.

April 23, 2007 10:55 PM

phthaloblu said…

I understand all about detail. Yep! As much as I try to get away from it, I am only happy when it looks like what I’m looking at. These are both so beautiful. I love wisteria, too, the way it hangs and looks. It’s all around my house, but not in my yard. Wonderfully done.

April 24, 2007 3:15 PM

platitudinal said…

Thank you for your unrelenting pursue of details, we all benefit from it and get to enjoy the beauty you created based from your search.*Honestly speaking, though, Ronell, I think both takes of the wisterias are appealing. 🙂

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