We call him "Mr Fang"
The days are getting shorter, the nights are colder, and there's already been a frost out in the countryside. This past weekend we disassembled our terrace plantings, and brought most of the plants inside. For the first time since living here, we've set up full-spectrum LED grow lights and are keeping most of our plants here at home rather than overwintering them in our studio. We have one area for succulents, another for culinary herbs, two others for our many houseplants that live outside in the summer, including some geraniums and begonias in the hope that they'll keep flowering. We thought both the plants and the additional light might help our mood and brighten the rooms where we're now spending so many of our waking hours. After only a few days it already makes a big difference.
Of course the proximity to all those shapes and textures inspires drawing! One of our most spectacular plants is the aptly-named Kalanchoe beharensis "Fang", at the top of this post, a gift from our friend and excellent gardener Guylaine.
Last Saturday I cut off the dragon wing begonias, which had grown to a huge size, before bringing them inside, and put the flowering stems in vases:
Last fall I'd done the same thing, and went back to look at the watercolor/ink drawing in my previous sketchbook. Maybe I'll manage to do another watercolor this year before the gorgeous crimson and hot pink flowers all fade.
And in another still-life painting, I tried to catch the last of the sweet pea blossoms, of which I had so few this summer, but the flowers got way too fussy:
Sweet peas in a Syrian glass vase, and a pebble. 6" x 9."
The best part of the painting is the lower section, with no plants at all!
I especially like the red flowers!
Posted by: Sharyn | October 17, 2020 at 12:48 PM
You paint objects masterfully, but I love the energy of your flowers!
Posted by: Peter | October 17, 2020 at 07:10 PM
Oh, I do love begonias. My mother used to grow them in terracotta pots in the early spring. (In south Texas, if my memory is correct, they liked the weather before it got too awfully hot.)
Posted by: Rachel Barenblat | October 19, 2020 at 10:06 PM