I was trying for a landscape with minimal detail, just enough to give the viewer the essence of the scene. At first I wasn’t too happy with it but the more I look at it, I believe that I reached my goal. I am trying for that happy medium where I don’t needle my paintings to death with superfluous detail.
I wanted to plein air paint at this beautiful local gardens before the tulip season is finished. This is last year’s post about this beautiful place Glorius Tulips at Crystal Hermitage . I am planning to visit here throughout the year because they do have the gardens open for visitors year round.
Aren’t these beautiful? I love it at Ananda. When I lived with my Mom and Sister back in the 1980’s I often would hike up the road and visit Ananda Village. I still love the area and the people.
I was fretting a bit about painting flowers, because I generally don’t practice with them enough. I decided to keep it loose and fancy free. I might bring in some more darks to bring out the centers but basically I want to keep it loose.
I almost abandoned this painting because I have the tendency to freak out when I can’t see where I am going with a painting. But, I pressed in and was determined to get something out of the experience. Happy to say, I ended up liking it rather than hating it. I am unsure if it is finished or not. Plein air is suppose to be not detailed to death and I want to keep the freshness and resist the need to noodle it to endless detail.
If you ever get up to the Nevada City/North San Juan area, take the time to go see the gardens at Ananda, especially during the tulip blooming season which is typically March-April or early May.
*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.
Yuba Gold 
Love the atmosphere you get in your watercolors!
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Thank you Doreen, the secret is not just technique but imagining yourself at the spot while painting it. 😉
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Nice work on the florals! love the soft feel
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Thank you!
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I really like the minimal landscape – it has just enough!
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yep…..it is….and good thing I let it sit for a bit and let that inner critic to simmer down. I was close to flipping it over and painting on the other side! geez, artists!
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I think you met your goal on the landscape but you know I am a fan of you abstracts and when you do a tulip abstract….pure love!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I am a flower lover deep in my soul.
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Of course you are! 😉 you are an angel with the brush with them flowers. Thank you! I am going to do more and more florals. I even set up my studio a bit differently and put in another work table meaning to really spread out and get wild with my painting.
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Get them arms flappin’. 😀
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haha….yes Ma’am 😉
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Painting #2 is my favorite. I love that wet-in-wet effect that you’ve got. And your photos are great too. Tulips aren’t blooming yet in Nova Scotia. Actually, the deer munched all mine down, except for one or two! The daffodils and forsythia are blooming though. It’s all coming!
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Thank you Flora…..I loved painting that floral. I was nervous at first and then I decided to go loose because I feel more comfortable with that style. For some reason I keep trying to depict things more tight but it is against my nature. Crazy, maybe one of these days that feeling won’t hound me anymore.
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The second two watercolors show more of that Oriental influence. It’s interesting to observe your switching back and forth between these two very different styles. Perhaps certain subjects prompt you to think about them in one way or the other?
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When you have figured it out let me know! I have been wondering the same, it is quite the mystery. The only thing that I can think of is that I let loose and thought of concentrating of getting the essence of what I was looking at and with minimal detail as I could manage. I wonder if that is when that Oriental look shows up, but I think that I don’t consciously think about it, so intriguing! Oh I think that the alder trees helped prompt it….the fact that they have this weeping willow visage and distinctive trunks, perhaps it was natural to segue to the Oriental look. I also used my Chinese brushes which adds to the style, believe.
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forest and river transitions are excellent!
warm to cool. dark to light. oh my word! just lovely Margaret, very cool!
YRF
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yep…..I had to let that one (Bullards) grow on me and to think that I almost trashed it or did I threaten to turn it over? I can’t remember now!! lol
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I’m giggling!!
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I think the tree area in the first painting works really well and the flowers in the second painting have a lovely feel.
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thank you Graham…..happy painting!
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