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Posted on January 15, 2018 by Jean Mackay / Drawn In

The Beauty of Bulbs

What amazes me about amaryllis is the fact that a homely brown sphere the size of a softball can contain within it the potential for bold red blossoms to burst forth from its interior with a minimum of effort on my part. How incredible! I realize that onions and garlic are capable of similar feats, but it’s hard for them to compete. This is the last day that this particular bulb will fit on an 8-inch page at full size— it’s growing at about a half-inch a day— but you can be sure I’ll revisit it in a few weeks when the flower will make another beautiful subject.
Tips and Techniques: Let me start with a confession: I drew the amaryllis to avoid working on a complicated owl painting I started last week. I started the owl to avoid working on a commission for a house painting I’m struggling with. So, my tip is that when you’re out on an artistic limb, it can be helpful to return to techniques you know well (for me, drawing in ink then adding watercolor). You may just regain the confidence you need to push yourself back out on the limb.

And another tip: Did you know that you can load watercolor paint into a dip pen? That’s how I created the letter A. Mix the paint and load the nib with a brush. Give it a test run to be sure the paint is flowing and you’re good to go. You can even change up the color midway through writing if you want. Fun!

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 Category: Journal      Tags: amaryllis, bulbs, ink, sketchbook, watercolor sketch

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24 Comments on “The Beauty of Bulbs”

  1. Sketching on Whidbey Island
    January 15, 2018

    Your paintings are always clear and fresh

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 15, 2018

      The power of leaving some white space!

      Reply
  2. melissa van ness
    January 15, 2018

    Your “confessions” remind me of the old lady who swallowed a fly. Just don’t go swallowing any spiders, that probably wouldn’t help…..
    Wonderful page, as always. Finding a new posting from you is like a little present.

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 15, 2018

      I thought of that rhyme too Melissa. Now I just have to get back to the house painting. But instead, I’m poking around the internet. Bad.

      Reply
  3. teresam61
    January 16, 2018

    Love your work! I operate in a similar way at times…..I call them “avoidance techniques”…lol….

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 16, 2018

      Yep. I don’t do it often, but every now an then… I am nearly ready to wade back in to the pieces left on my desk.

      Reply
  4. Evelyn Flint
    January 16, 2018

    I love your drawings Jean – I keep practicing my drawing. I’m sure you’ll manage to get your commission done okay – you’ll just have to gradually creep back out on that limb…. !

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 16, 2018

      Indeed. I really like drawing and find I have a sort of tug of war with painting and drawing. When I go too far on the painting side, I tend to swing back.

      Reply
  5. Sharon Mann
    January 16, 2018

    Wow, this is a beautiful rendering.

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 16, 2018

      Thanks Sharon. I was pleased it came together so well with the split view.

      Reply
  6. Jodi
    January 16, 2018

    beautiful!

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 16, 2018

      Thanks Jodi!

      Reply
  7. bluebrightly
    January 16, 2018

    A really lovely painting, and a dignified way to avoid that commission! 😉 I’m partial to white amarylis, but they’re not as common as the red ones, so this year, once again, I think I missed the boat. I didn’t see any white ones so I didn’t get one. They are so wonderful to watch…enjoy!

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 16, 2018

      I’m curious about the white ones, too. In my research for this post I discovered that there are two distinct species sold as amaryllis– one from Africa and the other from So. America. The reds tend to be So. American Hippeastrum species…which is what I have. Maybe next year we’ll find the white!

      Reply
      • bluebrightly
        January 21, 2018

        I took a quick look online and there seem to be plenty of bulbs around to order. Guess I need to make a note on my calendar…. 😉 I do love your drawing, and the way you balanced the roots on the left with the bud on the right, clever! Yesterday I saw individual tulips for sale that went stem to stern – i.e. root to flower. It was interesting, a good marketing ply, I think, I may get one!

      • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
        January 21, 2018

        I like the idea of seeing the full flower, root to blossom. I wanted to plant my amaryllis in water so that I could see that, but didn’t have the right stones. Next time!

  8. LisaDay
    January 17, 2018

    It probably says something that I killed mine. I look forward to seeing the end result.

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      January 17, 2018

      Yikes…maybe you had a bad bulb…or did you drown it?

      Reply
      • LisaDay
        January 18, 2018

        I think I neglected it to the point of death. Apparently plants are too much of a commitment!

  9. moorezart
    January 18, 2018

    Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.

    Reply
  10. Pingback: Astonished | Drawn In

  11. Erica
    March 29, 2018

    Beautiful! Your drawing captures it.! What is it about bulbs? I love to just go to the farm supply and look at the bins full of them. It must be the mystery packed inside that intrigues us? I just started sketching some of late. But wow! Love this!

    Reply
    • Jean Mackay / Drawn In
      March 29, 2018

      So right Erica. I also like seeing the full plant…roots to flower, which we seldom do. It is a great opportunity to really look at a botanical specimen. Good luck with your sketches!

      Reply
  12. Emma Louise
    May 17, 2018

    Beautiful painting! Great tip too.

    Reply

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