White Bouquet-Days 1 and 2

© Ellen Blonder

After drawing the white peony in colored pencil, I wanted to paint in watercolor again and use white flowers as a subject. I love the calm beauty of a white bouquet. This one uses flowers in my garden: iceberg roses, white hydrangea, and an odd white campanula. It also has tiny chartreuse flowers from lady's mantle, bright green grape leaves and a spiky white flower whose name I can never remember. I spent the first day sketching directly onto watercolor paper, and the second laying in the first color.

Persimmon Revisited-Final

 © Ellen Blonder

Finished. The actual fruit is still hanging on the branch, but by today many of the leaves have fallen.

Persimmon Revisited-Day 1

© Ellen Blonder

I'm revisiting the persimmon in a second watercolor. This will show leaves in stages of turning rich yellows, oranges and reds, different from my painting from a couple of weeks ago when the leaves were all still green. Many of the actual leaves blew off the tree in today's heavy windstorm, scattering brilliant color all over the garden.

Orchid-Final

© Ellen Blonder

Finished the orchid study today. Also spotted my first Humpback Whale for the season when I looked up from the drawing table.

White Orchids-Day 1

© Ellen Blonder

When I went to set up my drawing things in Kauai, I found a pencil sketch I had started in my watercolor pad a year ago. I wish I had taken notes on the color, but I seem to remember it was white, so that's how I painted it today.