Tender Greens
There’s a fleeting moment each spring when shoots emerge and recently barren ground begins to turn green. In another week these sprouts, these plants marching across my page, will be twice as tall and unfurling fast. If I had to wager, I’d say that Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) wrote her poem, Spring, in mid-April. When “blows the thaw-wind” and “drips the soaking rain,” she celebrates the season’s change in “tips of tender green.” I was pleased to find her words, connecting across time and place, resonating still.
Tips and Techniques– Experiment with mixing different combinations of warm and cool yellows with various blues to see what greens you like best. I often paint test strips and keep them for future reference when trying to choose the right green for a particular subject. Notice, too, how much red appears along with spring greens. You’ll often see it in stems and leaf tips. I find Alizarin crimson to be the perfect choice for the ruby red shades at this time of year.
Drawn In 
love the colors and the poem. Perfect
What a beautiful poem that certainly describes the ground around here, everything is popping out of the ground with tips of many colors and the Rhododendrons are going crazy after 4.5 feet of rain and the redwoods have grown in circumference with each rain storm. What are the plants in your picture could some be skunk cabbage??
Looking forward to the green class on Thurs.
What a deluge you’ve had! I glad there are some benefits. The plants here are hostas, peonies, and Solomon seal, with maple seedlings scattered about. Last year was a banner year for maple seeds and I suspect I’ll be pulling them out of my garden for some time. See you for GREEN.
Thanks Kelly! It’s nice to be using green again.
Jean, What a beautiful subject and layout. I especially like the way the shoots on the left thrust their way off the page.
Thanks Judy! I miss seeing you and your beautiful artwork. I hope you are sketching and painting spring unfolding in VT!
Ms Christina was so poetically perceptive! Her sense of the excitement underground on the verge of Spring gives me goosebumps! Jean, such a perfect choice of words to accompany your lovely “march” into Spring. It’s amazing to witness the transformation from dusty and seemingly barren ground to the first hints of new life and spring green. Your depiction tells the story beautifully! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you are enjoying spring, too, Barb!
thanks Jean!
It’s really nice to see how fresh Rosetti’s poem feels alter all these years – and your painting as well. It was probably mid-May way back then, accounting for climate change! But Oh, I love that fleeting moment and it is gone too soon, every year. Already, where I live, the green is filling out and beginning to lose that sweet tenderness. But no complaints! Have a good weekend, Jean.
Thanks much! Despite climate change, spring is tracking exactly as I would expect. We’re about to hit peak in the week ahead– my favorite time of year.