wild strawberries and bluettes

north yard

(click image for larger version)

I’ve been working on a sketch for a painting.  The plants and trees and flowers have continued to be on my mind most.  On the north side of the house, outside my bedroom window, there was a dogwood tree and just past the picnic table  there was a funny little tree with round jingly leaves we called the money tree. I don’t know what  it was – an alder maybe? I’m trying not to get too stuck on being botanically correct – I’ll drive myself nuts. The grass was sprinkled with bluettes, tiny wild strawberries, orange hawkweed (indian paintbrush), queen anne’s lace and purple clover. Ferns and violets grew in the shade near the stone wall and marched down the little hill.

This week I’ll start to make this into a painting. I’m also  thinking about what to draw next:  If I follow the violets down the little hill  I could go across the road and past the wild tiger lilies into the far swamp.  Or if I turn right at the dogwood tree I could show you the Japanese maple and a classic 1970’s  above ground swimming  pool. I’m leaning towards the pool.

13 Comments

  1. What a lovely sketch. But why is your little pony disgruntled? :] Looks to me like he has a wonderful place to live.

    Your work is very inspiring– keep it up and thanks for sharing with all of us. Especially the teacups, boats, and all those beautiful cardboard horses.

  2. ah. . . . but I lean to the violets and tiger lilies. Does it have to go as far as the swamp? Perhaps we could turn back, then, and avoid the mud. [grin]

  3. Hi Juli – it was his personality – he was a digruntled creature but he made up for it with a good sense of humor

  4. love it! can’t wait to see more…i especially love the ‘disgruntled pony’…

  5. Your drawing gives me tingles inside my chest. Your words conjure a magical world. I am so envious of your wonderful talents! Looking forward to seeing the picture awash with colour… Thank you for sharing x

  6. Catherine Wood Flavin

    Don’t forget the garden and me riding my bike through it!

  7. Elizabeth Noone

    ferns, violets, and wild columbine.
    – love the project!

  8. thanks for sharing your plans for painting! I must say, I’m a painter myself who has been following your blog for a while, and among other things, I found the artwork on your little teacups very inspiring.

  9. just so you dont drive yourself nuts before the painting is complete: my guess is the tree was an aspen with round stiff leaves that quake in the slightest breeze.

  10. Joni – thanks so much- I think you are absolutely correct. That has been driving me nuts for 20 plus years.

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