Hello! It’s been a bit. Since the last time I sent this newsletter, baby Ruby was born, I went on maternity leave, finished maternity leave, and have been back at work for the last several weeks. We’ve also had a VERY cold, snowy January and February, but now it finally feels like spring is here — about time!!
I am happy to share a few updates in the studio and in the garden.
The first (and only) painting that I completed during maternity leave
This cosmos painting was the only painting that I fully finished during maternity leave, and it was also actually the first painting that I worked on during maternity leave. It was so good to pick the paintbrush back up again.
I am planning to plant some cosmos this spring in the garden — can’t wait to see them grow and share some photos with you all!
Another work in process. I feel like the “Mother” sunflower is protecting the other plants.
This sunflower painting is another painting that I started during my maternity leave, and while it is not yet complete (I still need to do my “texture” layer), all the components are in place. The sunflower reference photo came from a few years ago, when we grew a huge multiheaded sunflower in our garden. I think it was over six feet tall.
The composition and colors of this painting have been in my head for a while, so it was very exciting to finally get it onto canvas. The deep red background really makes the greens sing, and it also reminds me a bit of the clay soil in NC (which I have a love/hate relationship with). I’m already envisioning several more garden paintings using this background color.
While we won’t be growing another full-size sunflower in our garden this year, I have bought several “dwarf” varieties that I will be planting in nursery pots - hoping for some cheerful blooms this summer to nurture and paint.
Poppies! The composition of this one was a bit of a struggle, and I always wonder if I should add more or less. I kind of loved how every stage of this painting looks so I really can’t decide, even now!
And finally, this poppy painting was the last painting that I started during maternity leave. I really struggled with how many flowers to paint in this one — I love the simplicity when there were only a few flowers, but also, can there ever be too many poppies??
Similar to the sunflower painting, this one is not yet completely finished as it still needs texture added. However I’m already thinking about painting a companion piece with an emerald green background to really let the red & yellow poppies shine.
Poppies are another flower that I would love to grow in the garden, but unfortunately it’s too late for this season as they are sown in the winter in NC. Something to look forward to next year…
Now for the garden updates! Snow peas, lettuce, and prepping the garden beds.
One of the things I love about gardening is how exciting the spring is. We have already planted the spring garden (mostly lettuce and snow peas) and are prepping the other beds for the summer plants. It has been so exciting watching the seeds germinate indoors and then transplanting them outside. We have been getting our older girls to help us, and although they don’t LOVE the garden yet, they are always happy to dig in the dirt.
In addition to veggies this year, I am also excited for the flowers that I’ll be planting. There’s just something special about watching a plant grow and unfurl. In my mind I am envisioning paintings of flowers in all their stages (both in their prime bloom and when the blooms start to fade and seed pods mature) and it is a really exciting prospect. I can’t wait to be able to observe these flowers day by day in my own garden!!