The Collection
“I feel the need to fall in love with the world, to forge that relationship ever more strongly. But maybe I don’t have to work so hard. I have thought nature indifferent to humans, to one more human, but maybe the reverse is true. Maybe the world is already in love, giving us these gifts all the time — the glimpse of a fox, tracks in the sand, a breeze, a flower — calling out all the time: take this. And this. And this. Don’t turn away.”
Sharman Apt Russell
Diary of a Citizen Scientist: Chasing Tiger Beetles and Other New Ways of Engaging the World
Tips and Techniques– Museum and nature center specimens and online natural history collections are excellent sources of painting inspiration, especially in winter. I love the sheer diversity, the sense of discovery, and the exquisite beauty and intricacies of these collections. Learn how to access a treasure trove of possibilities and paint along with me, combining specimens from several collections during Painting Natural History Collections, Friday, December 17, 10am PST, 1pm EST, offered for free by the Winslow Art Center. This workshop is part of Winslow’s Winter Bash! a free week of work-alongs, demos, and talks. If you can’t watch live, the program will be recorded so that you can see it later. Sign up online to receive the Zoom link.
Drawn In 
I cannot wait!
Super– it should be fun.
Beautiful drawing and quote Jean.
Thanks Jenny– I really liked that quote too.
oh Jean! Just lovely and that quote!!
What a nice to surprise to see you in person today! Looking forward to our adventures ahead.
Love all you work.
Thanks Claudia.
Love the quote as well as your art work.
Thanks much. I was going to place the quote into the piece but it would have made it too crowded. I’m glad I could pair them here to share.
Exquisite. Gorgeous muted colors, with that pop of blue eggs. (Cerulean?)
Those eggs were a risk Melissa. I added them and the blue butterfly after everything else was done. I thought I needed a pop of color and something to fill those spaces. I’m glad I didn’t blow it! The egg blue is Prussian blue with a touch of yellow ochre. Prussian blue pairs nicely with raw sienna too.
I can’t wait for your workshop! This is a lovely spread.
Thanks Marleny– Glad you’ll be on the Zoom. I’ve discovered some deep online collections that I want to share. Given your work with NY Botanical Garden (or is it Brooklyn?) it will be right in your wheelhouse.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful art! You also find the most wonderful quotations to accompany it.
Thank you!
That’s a truly wonderful quote, Jean, and it works well with the idea of studying and sketching collections of objects from nature. Thank you. 🙂