I hadn't had a look around my garden for weeks as it had been raining endlessly and everywhere was squelchy up to the ankles. But the sun has been out, and so have these gloriously messy ginger flowers - they've been having a private display to themselves between a big old cypress tree and our back wall. I took my paints and watercolour pad out there, and had to stand up to paint this enormous flower - it's about a foot from top to bottom - if I sat down it was hidden behind the leaves, so my painting is even messier than the shaggy bloom. I think that ginger is an alien plant species (it certainly likes a lot of water!) and I suppose we should pull this out, really.
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13 comments:
Oh, I love this painting! I wish I could see a ginger flower in person, but they would never grow in Minnesota. Maybe I should try. I am certainly inspired by your painting!
Andrea, Minnesota, USA
Two feet of snow still on the ground
Glorious! Isn't it a relief and exhilarating to paint organic shapes after tackling architecture and deep space? This is so full of light and life.
Andrea, spring on its way for you - and autumn for us - I think they aren't too fussy where they grow. This one planted itself as far as I know!
Laura, you can see inside my head - it is a relief!
We have ginger plants in our garden here too. Their foliage is rather ugs and messy. But when the blooms come out, they are so pretty and fragant! Ours are white. Maybe I'll have a go at drawing / painting them... Of course its another WHITE flower - like our magnolias - always a challenge... This lovely, C.
AAHHH! I used to have a ginger plant in my garden in Cape Town. I loved the large leaves - so tropical looking. It never flowered though. Wish it had. I think the flower and your painting are beautiful. Love the green background to this. Works well.
Jean
So spontaneous Cathy and delicate. Didnt realise ginger had such a bloom. As someone else said, the background enhances the whole subject.
Nicely done !
Gillian - would love to see your white ginger flower. Paint the in between bits first, then just a hint on the petals - I found this one was mostly about the negative spaces.
Jean, the large leaves do get very untidy as Gillian said, but lovely when they're lush. Ours hasn't flowered like this for years
Joan, it was spontaneous - a case of rushing out and putting down, before it faded like the others!
Thanks Megha! Ginger must grow profusely in India? What colour flowers do the kind you eat have?
Those ginger lilies are just spectacular - heady scent too, if I remeber correctly. lots around here (KZN) too in the lush gorges.
After today's showing maybe the cricket should take a back seat. Imagine this: one bowler, 3 wickets and another two battters (think that's what they call them now-a-days) off to hopsital. It's a tale of woe........
You can see from my typing errors that I have new multifocal lenses!
Jill - the cricket today would make anyone cross-eyed - suddenly seems like a very dangerous sport!But as they say, it's a funny old game, so maybe...
What a gloriously sunny flower! It's beautiful.. I wouldn't pull it up!
I love the glower and the use of paint and negative space. I have been visiting your site lately. Thank you for sharing your work. I am new to blogging. My blog site is patreesedesign.blogspot.com
Visit me sometime.
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