Tuesday 12 June 2007

Flowers

I haven't had much time in the studio lately. We have been out and about as the weather has been gorgeous. I have been busy with my judging course work which means lots of reading and writing but little creating. I am reading Johannes Itten's book Design and Form (The Basic course at the Bauhaus) and also Design! A Lively Guide to Design Basics for Artists & Craftspeople. Whilst I have studied design before for the various C&G courses I have done it's quite different reading them from a judging perspective.

I did spend a day in the studio with my wax pot trying out a batik sample. I am afraid it wasn't very successful though Norman says it's wonderful. I am afraid I don't like it so I am going to try another piece today having learned a lot from the first piece.


I have been taking a lot of pictures of the flowers in my garden for a project I am working on. More of that later. This is an Aquelegia. I love these flowers they are so small and delicate and come in the most gorgeous colours. I took this photograph yesterday afternoon - what a gorgeous blue sky.

Some of my Clematis are blooming. This was one I moved last year when we built the log cabin, my outdoor studio. I just think plants are amazing and so resilient.

This is a picture of one of the lillies in a bouquet I received last week from June, the lady whose antique quilt I restored. She loved it and was over the moon.

There is a marvellous selection of flowers in the bouquet all of which I have photographed. It will be a little while before the lillies in my garden bloom. The Fritilaria Imperialis (crown imperials) are not far from blooming. I am using photographs I took of these last year for a fabric page challenge on the LikeMindedArtists group.

This is a close up of a pure white lilly.

This is a standard rose, one of two, I bought last year. They are in pots and I was worried that they would survive the winter but since we had a mild winter this year they are thriving.
Carol McFee was telling me about Traci Bautista's DVD. Since I already had her book I thought I would get her DVD. I have had a quick look and it is inspirational.

9 comments:

Papoosue said...

Aren't those flowers just beautiful Carol. I need to get into my garden desperately - it's more of a wilderness at the moment!

Susan D said...

What gorgeous flowers. My favourites are Roses but not too keen on Lilies. I know it's a sin but I do envy anyone with a garden and hate to see ones that are neglected when I would dearly love to have one.

Doreen G said...

I watched "Retro Rags" tonight and it is fantastic.
I will be able to do my fabric/paper book now that I have all the information.

Alis Clair said...

Gorgeous flowers Carol. I love Aquelegia. Such pretty little flowers.

Digitalgran said...

I love your flower photos Carol and I think I will have to get either the book or the DVD, possibly both!

Shirley Goodwin said...

Do we get to see your wax piece? I am waiting for some soy wax to arrive so I can try that out.

Sandy said...

Beautiful flowers. You're inspiring me to photograph the Begonia I keep looking at in our hanging basket. Sandy

English Rose said...

Hi Carol,

your garden must be looking beautiful hon, and what a fabulous bouquet of flowers, lucky you.
can you give me any details on the books you are reading, particularly the second one you mention, "Design! A lively guide to design basics for artist and craftspeople." thanks. sara

Carol said...

Thank you ladies for your kind words. After all the work Norman and I did in the garden last year in order to build the log cabin I wondered if the garden would ever be the same again!

Sara the Design! book was recommended to me by Barbara Weeks, one of the tutors on the judging course. I am finding it particularly useful.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Design-Lively-Basics-Artists-Craftspeople/dp/1600591361/ref=sr_1_1/202-8971699-0182259?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181731665&sr=1-1

I found it at Amazon