Lately I’ve been a captive of fading leaves and withering petals–trying to use every minute to get them drawn and studied for a painting before they are totally gone. Drawings, color studies, and reference photos take precedence over anything that can be postponed during that brief period when the cuttings remain fresh. When they’re not ‘on stage’ on my drawing table, I gingerly move these prima donnas to the refrigerator, where they rest in cool comfort. By now my husband is used to rummaging through vases of leafy twigs and such to find something edible in the fridge….thankfully he is a patient man…
Earlier in the year, I received a commission to do a painting of a lupine, any lupine I chose. Since I am partial to the plants native to the Pacific Northwest where I live, I decided on the graceful variety that grows in the eastern Columbia Gorge, Lupinus latifolius x sericeus. I waited eagerly for spring, when the lupines would begin to bloom, then drove the 90 miles (145 kilometers) to the eastern end of the Columbia Gorge to observe them growing in their natural habitat of dry, grassy bluffs…in fact I made the trip twice while they were in bloom. I also wanted to see what other plants grew around them. The most notable was the bright, bold sunflower-like Carey’s balsamroot, Balsamorhiza careyana. The yellow of the balsamroot could set off the violet of the lupine beautifully since opposites on the color wheel make each other appear more vivid. They may make a good combination in my painting.
Intertwined clumps of Columbia Gorge lupine and Carey’s balsamroot
This area of the Columbia River Gorge is known for its sunny weather and high winds, which makes it great for sail boarding on the river and hiking the many trails but not favorable for sketching in the field. The sun beats down and the plants bob and continually sway in the brisk breeze while you try to hold onto your sketchbook so it doesn’t blow away. Fortunately I had access to an area that wasn’t a nature preserve so I could take a few small cuttings from the vast fields of lupine and balsamroot covering the hills in order to study them in better conditions.
Lupine and balsamroot growing in the dry fields of upper Columbia Gorge.
Back in my studio, I did some detailed drawings, noting the shape of the stems and leaves and how they connect up, and how the small lupine blossoms rotate around the stem. On a scrap of paper which is similar to the paper I will be using, I made splotches of pigments likely to be close to the blossom and foliage colors, then experimented with layering, mixing and lifting. I tried out the most promising pigment candidates in a sketchy study of petals and blossoms.
Drawing the leaves, measuring with a divider to make sure they are to-scale.
In my next post, I’ll show you how I put together my drawings to create a composition, ready to transfer to watercolor paper.
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
Thank you for sharing this! What a journey it takes to create!
Lyn, It is quite a journey, and there’s learning all the way which keeps it interesting! Thanks for your comment.
A nice look into the intensity of your process…leading to your exquisite paintings. Looking forward to the next installment on this adventure.
Thanks so much, Deb!
Thank you so much for telling us about your process. As I am in the UK it is particularly interesting to hear about the environment in other parts of the world and learn from it. I look forward to your next post.
Chris, Thank you for your interest and kind comment! The western section of the Columbia River Gorge, nearer where I live, has a climate similar to much of the UK so our gardens have many plants in common. I always enjoy hearing about the plants and gardens of the UK, and other parts of the world, as well.