Cold Day, Warm Light
Though no longer cloaked in their brilliant red of June, poppy seedheads have their own naked beauty in November. I was so pleased to sketch these, backlit by the afternoon sun, at the Botanical and Nature Sketching Retreat at the Ashokan Center a few weeks ago. I didn’t have time to paint them there, but thanks to Faye of Flowers by Faye I got to take them home. Now, the seedheads sit on my windowsill where, even as the weather turns cold, they continue to bring warmth to the room and remind me of that inspiring weekend.
Tips & Techniques– Do you ever have sketchbook pages that are left undone? This one took me several weeks to finish, but my general advice is not to leave them for so long. It’s too easy to lose inspiration, or to simply move on to the next thing. As a general practice, I try to finish every page I start within about a week. This keeps me engaged and interested, ensures that I get to the satisfying final stages of each painting, and keeps me sketching from week to week.
Drawn In 
Jean! Your back-lit poppy seed pods are beautifully bundled, drawn and painted! (How to you achieve the dusky lavender color?) I’m uncertain what Flowers by Faye had to do with your ability to bring them home? You must’ve been inspired by her floral arrangements, which are beautiful !
Your tip on page completion “soon” is spot on. I almost have to “schedule and appointment” with myself to wrap up some of my more detailed pages, before they are put aside due to uncertainty about how to proceed or in favor of fresh subjects. Of course I must then pay attention to my appointments!
Thank you so much for sharing the world of nature as seen through your eyes! Have a great week!
Hi Barb- I should have been clearer– Faye grew the poppies and gave them to me to take home. I think the purple was dioxizine purple, but you could mix your own with ultramarine and alizarin crimson. I used yellow ochre for the warm areas. I wish I could schedule an appointment for artwork every day…but, alas, maybe that’s why it is necessary to schedule it. I hope you are working on something good these days!
Jean! Thanks so much for explaining about the “Faye” connection. Now I understand. And also thanks for the color mix tips, which you’ve mentioned a million times over the past several years. Today I’m especially receptive tho, ….. I’ve a new watercolor set arriving today! Can’t wait.
I can send you a pocket calendar so you can schedule those important creative appointments. It’s the perfect size to get lost in your kit or buried under your works-in-progress! Hahahahah haha!
really appreciate your reply and all,of your postings. I always learn so much!
I have blog pages that sit undone, while I play wack-a-mole with my to-do list. I agree it is best for me to try to complete the work soon after the outing, otherwise I start to forget the light, the smells, what I was hearing, and how the birds behaved when they were NOT in front of my lens. Love the purple seed pods, and the way you captured the glancing winter light across them.
Good to know it’s not just the sketchers who struggle. I made a decision long ago to keep my blog posts short and that has helped me get them done from week to week. I’m sure it’s harder when you have multiple images from an outing. Thanks for sharing your experiences and photos! I appreciate it!
Great advice! That’s why I love your emails, Jean.
What a lovely picture and the light coming from behind gives it such a warmth. Thanks for sharing I love to see all of the thoughts and sights that you put down in your journals. Thanks and have a lovely Holiday season.
Thank you, Jean, for the reminder to get back to my sketchbook practice. It has been silent for some while.
Jann
How was the sketchbook practice this week? Any marks made?
Dear Jean,
I love your drawings. And to hear that you can take a week to finish is heartening. You’re so good! and it takes you time! It’s easy to have ideas about someone you admire that are inaccurate.
Sometimes I stop a sketch in my book because it has gone awry. Then if I wait a longish time, I might stumble upon that page and think: “Why did I think this was so bad?”
Anyway – you inspire me and I thank you.
Warm winter regards,
Mary Maness Vancouver Island
Hi Mary- If it helps– I rarely have time to start and finish a sketch in one go. And I’ve learned that coming back with fresh eyes can be a good thing. We all have to find the time and pace that we can manage. There’s no “right” way, other than the one that works for you. Thanks for your note!