Orchid: Love, Luxury, Beauty & Strength

Orchids, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Orchids have long been one of the most cherished of flowers. They are associated with love, luxury, beauty and Strength.

My father converted a room in the house dedicated to growing them. They were not easy to grow. My dad loved orchids so much that we had a casket blanket made out of living orchids. I had to tell the shop what I wanted. I wanted to be able to take apart the blanket after the ceremony. They shook their heads in confusion, but did manage to do as I asked. Each child was given one of the orchids to take home in remembrance of him.

Dad lived with my hubby and I for the final 13 years of his life. When he passed it was as if someone blew a huge hole in my heart. Then, after 4 years in dormancy the orchid bloomed. I took it as a sign that Dad was telling me it was time to shake off the sorrow. If it were not for this orchid (which I really didn’t take very good care of) blooming, I might still in deep depression. So this plant gave me back the strength to get back into life again. I’ve never looked back.

Plein Air at the Amherstburg Navy Yard

RodiDSC_2315, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

My best two female friends and I ventured out to Amherstburg this morning to paint during the Garden Tour. We were not disappointed as the gardens were in full bloom. I’ve taken to doing smaller watercolours in my Moleskine. I have fallen head over heals in love with this book. I bought two larger one’s when I was in California, but I’ve yet to take the plastic off them. We have an exciting summer planned for the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society in this our third summer.

Amherstburg Garden Tour, Navy Yard Rhododendron, and Azalea Garden, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Just an incredible day in Amherstburg. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Still Life

Still Life, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Just a quick update on my crazy life.

We are out Plein Air Painting again and boy does it feel great! Monday was our second outing. It was windy, and cool but we stayed out for two hours then retreated to Margaret’s studio. Once there I set up a still life, and this was my view. Margaret painted the bouquet on my right, and Mary painted it from across the table. It was a great day.

Flowers from Jeanne

Flowers from Jeanne DSC_0928, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

A knock on the door brought a delightful surprise today. It was a lovely bouquet from a dear friend of mine who had to move out west. We met only a year ago through my Plein Air outings. Jeanne is a wonderful artist, and a beautiful woman. It was heartbreaking to meet someone so nice only to loose her to a large move. Thankfully the internet allows us to keep in touch, but it definitely is not the same. We did get to share some great times last summer drawing and painting together.

Today was such a beautiful day that I was able to open up the back door and take some lovely photos in the natural light. Mind you the back room is our mud room, so I had to disguise the junk with some drapery. I think this photo turned out rather well.

I wish I had time to paint them. I’ve got a couple of big things on my plate these days. One is getting my artwork organized for Margaret’s and my show next week. The other is helping Patricia to get an Ontario Arts Council grant written. Maybe I will get a moment to breath, and in that moment I can paint or draw these beautiful flowers.

Flowers from Jeanne DSC_0948, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Spring blooms

Sunday stills this weeks is flowers. I took these the last week of April, and beginning of May. I’m out of town so I had to resort to archives. But, these really aren’t that old, so I think they still count as fresh. I’ve reseached the names of the flowers as much as I could, but the first one has me puzzled. If anyone knows the name of this plant could you let me know? Looks like this weekend will be beautiful. Hope you all get out there and enjoy it.

Queen Elizabeth II Gardens at Jackson Park. Poppy?

Western entrance to the Willistead Manor Grounds

Kwanzan Cherry Tree, on the grounds of Willistead Manor

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

Hyacinth

Wisteria just beginning to boom at my step daughters

B is for Bug on a Dogwood bloom, and a lovely bench

Sunday Stills this week was about the letter B.

B is for Bench, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

B is for Bug on a Dogwood bloom, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

This photo was the inspiration for the pencil sketch that I uploaded on Friday. This beautiful Dogwood tree is located on the grounds of Willistead Manor in Windsor, Ontario.

Macro Monday Dec 7, 2009

This fall was extremely warm, and my plants decided it was spring. Not only did my Maple tree bud, but my clematis decided to give me one last beautiful bloom. I photographed it on an overcast day, and a sunny day. Today, I post two versions of one of the overcast photo’s. I hope you like them. If I get the opportunity I will post a version of the sunny day one as well.

Macro Monday Dec 7, 2009

DSC_0156, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Original photo.

Macro Monday Dec 7, 2009

clematis Adj0156, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Adjusted in ViewNX, a program that came with my Nikon D90