From the Garden
Sending you zinnias this week: bold, colorful, and deserving of a page all their own. I painted them as a demo for my Fun Farmers Market class at Winslow Art Center and it’s been great fun to see the artwork that class participants have created in response. What I especially love about art is that even when working on the same subject no two people create quite the same piece. The marks made are as unique as fingerprints or voice, as personal and expressive as touch or song.
Tips & Techniques- I love adding wildlife to my flower paintings. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, caterpillars, or birds add a lively element and are part of the story of what’s going on in the garden. If they’re not there, I don’t make them up, but when they are it’s nice to have a record of it. (Materials: Micron 005 pen and watercolor in Handbook Co. 140lb Watercolor Journal)
Drawn In 
Hi Jean…We went to SUNY Albany at the same time and I think we went to Dippikill with common friends. In any case, so enjoy seeing your work every week. Was especially interested in your canal bike trip. I started my trip on July 3rd and made it 4 days before we had to stop because of the oppressive heat. It was really dangerous! In any case, thanks for the images and beautiful art! Chris Burruto, SUNY Albany ’85.
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Hi Chris- Thanks for writing and reconnecting! I’m always fascinated to see who is out there receiving my posts! Sorry your bike trip was also cut short. The heat was really extreme those July weeks and you can go from feeling fine to heat exhaustion quickly. Maybe you can pick it up again in the fall. Check out Flotsam River Circus and the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief when they come through Rochester…good things floating on the canal this bicentennial year! Cheers, Jean
Hi Jean,
That is beautiful. Love the composition and lettering. This is the first year since we moved here (13 years ago) that I have seen a sphinx moth in the garden. I discovered them so many years ago when we lived in Earlton.
I plant Zinnias every year and they sure are lovely to see. I notice a female hummingbird, almost daily, visits every flower which goes to show that hummers aren’t necessarily attracted to red tubular blooms.
Hope you and your husband are doing well after that bike trip. I really enjoyed that post “Unexpected Detour.” The drawings, text and humor in spite of everything!! I am a retired bike rider who did many miles in the heat and humidity but could not imagine a trip like that.
Perhaps I’ll see you at the Kinderhook market some Saturday.
Cheers, Dawn
Hi Dawn- Glad you are having a good zinnia year! I neglected my garden a bit too much while training for Cycle the Erie, so my zinnias are a bit weak this year. But they are blooming in spite of me. I’ll be back in Kinderhook regularly at the end of August and will look for you at the market.
I was interested in Dawn’s comment about zinnias being visited by hummers. I’ve heard that from others, as well. During your painting studies, did you see that the center florets were like tiny yellow trumpets? Is that where the nectar is found?
I’ve noticed that, but I think those are petals unfurling. It looks to me like the the nectar is in the tiny florets in the center.
Thanks!
Jean! What a great subject for your mark class! Zinnias are such hardy flowers, while being colorfully beautiful at the same time. And pollinators love them! And they are ready reseeders! Thanks for sharing such a pretty post!
Thanks Barb! I’ve never had zinnias reseed, but that would be nice. Maybe I’ll try saving some seeds and adding them to areas where my perennials are thin.
go for it!
Hi, Jean. This is a wonderful sketch. How did you make that green color? It’s so perfect.
I used Nickel azo yellow and Prussian blue for the green. I find it a very reliable combination and one from which you can get a lot of variety.
Thanks.
Hi Jean! I always love seeing your entries and admire how you combine watercolor and ink so naturally. I’m curious about the font you write so beautifully in. Does it have a name? Also, what pens and size(s) do you use in your sketches? Thank you so much for sharing your work and techniques!
Hi Ingrid! Thanks for writing. I use a Micron .005 for my sketches and lettering. I used to use an 02, but I like the thinner line. As for the font, you could call that the Jean Mackay Special. It’s just my printing with some serifs and a bit of fun.
Thank you, Jean! I love the Jean Mackey font!
Thanks!