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JaneV2.0
4-4-23, 11:15am
There are all kinds of bulb farms in the Skagit Valley--some of them a riot of color.

catherine
4-21-23, 9:57pm
I'm sharing the output of 6 months of quasi-determined work to improve my watercolor skills.

First picture is a gift I gave my 2-years sober brother this week.

Second picture is a fun, totally whimsical treatment of the Mona Lisa in response to the biweekly challenge my private FB watercolor group set up--which was to interpret the Mona Lisa the way you want to. Because I spent the last 4 days driving to NY, taking the train to Manhattan and back to Westchester, seeing Hamilton and Camelot, walking nearly 10 miles in Manhattan to get to the theaters, driving to NJ to take out the last bit of crap from our storage unit there, and just spending the time in a cocoon of New York-ness, I came home and painted this picture. It is not good from an artistic point of view, but I think I captured the essence of the challenge.

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iris lilies
4-21-23, 11:22pm
I'm sharing the output of 6 months of quasi-determined work to improve my watercolor skills.

First picture is a gift I gave my 2-years sober brother this week.

Second picture is a fun, totally whimsical treatment of the Mona Lisa in response to the biweekly challenge my private FB watercolor group set up--which was to interpret the Mona Lisa the way you want to. Because I spent the last 4 days driving to NY, taking the train to Manhattan and back to Westchester, seeing Hamilton and Camelot, walking nearly 10 miles in Manhattan to get to the theaters, driving to NJ to take out the last bit of crap from our storage unit there, and just spending the time in a cocoon of New York-ness, I came home and painted this picture. It is not good from an artistic point of view, but I think I captured the essence of the challenge.

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The flower is beautiful. It’s very nice! Is it a rose? It looks a little bit like a lotus.


The Mona Lisa is fun.

iris lilies
4-21-23, 11:30pm
At the state garden club convention I gave a floral design program along with two other ladies. The three of us interpreted a painting, interpreted it in florals.

I didn’t spend a lot of money on the container, buying a $17 barn board gray container. I put a wash of black paint over it and told the audience it represented the water in the painting underneath the surface that was murky, dark, swirling. The painting is about water and light, and those are the elements I emphasized in my floral design. The rhythmic line goes from bottom right to upper left, and so I made that line with yellow mums, representing the big round water lily pads. I used small green mums to represent the smaller water lily pads.

Hydrangeas were more sun drenched water that buoyed up the beautiful objects. I found some great Chinese lantern dried pods to represent the onion shaped glass orbs. The building in the painting is represented in my design by a small container with white fungus dried fungus showing slightly but it’s hard to see in this photo.

The artist was in attendance at this program, and he told me my interpretation was the best.:D


Here is my floral design and here is the painting we interpreted.

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littlebittybobby
4-21-23, 11:54pm
Okay---I finally had to throw in my 2 cents. My whole point here is that being so-called "artistic" is a form of so-called: "Autism". Or: "On The Spectrum". Ha. Try not to cut off your ear, in response to my comment.

rosarugosa
4-22-23, 6:17am
Catherine: Beautiful job on the watercolors! The flower is lovely, and the Mona Lisa is fun and well done.

IL: I really love your design, and I agree that it captures the feeling of the painting very nicely.

happystuff
4-23-23, 9:37am
I really enjoy the endeavors shared. Such talent on these forums!

iris lilies
5-8-23, 12:49pm
So, in one iris show yesterday I bombed in the Design division with one 4th place and two 2nd place awards. The 4th place class was fun to do and I completely understand the judges’ thinking because they said the robot head is way too large. The class was “Robots.” I show it for your amusement.

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But in the Horticulture division I won “Sweepstakes” which means the exhibitor with the most blue ribbons. On this “Queen’s Table” of section winners there are 9 stems. 6 of them are mine.

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rosarugosa
5-8-23, 12:52pm
I think the robot head is rather fun. Congratulations on the horticulture win!

littlebittybobby
5-9-23, 1:15am
Okay-----There is no doubt but what that stuff is VERY(x4444) Artistic. Yup.

happystuff
5-9-23, 9:21am
Nice, IL. And congrats!

bae
5-10-23, 11:31am
“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” Georgia O'Keeffe

https://i.imgur.com/L18T70j.jpg

iris lilies
5-10-23, 11:42am
That is a beautiful flower picture bae [edited.]. Really very very pretty.

typo! I did not mean to call bae “babe.” Haha.

bae
5-10-23, 11:45am
That is a beautiful flower picture babe. Really very very pretty.

Thanks! We had a sudden surge of hot weather, and the flowers here came-and-went very quickly after being nearly a month late, so they were looking a bit sad. I thought a very very narrow depth of field would yield a nice soft focus, and make the flower look a bit happier than it appeared in real life.

There was a positive angle though, some of the flowers had dropped petals on one side, so I could get some nice interior shots of the stigma/anther parts.

happystuff
5-11-23, 9:02am
Beautiful, bae!

catherine
5-11-23, 9:31am
“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” Georgia O'Keeffe


I do love Georgia O'Keefe and her quote points to exactly why I picked up watercolor. In my haste to garden or just to walk through the garden, I was missing the big picture--really SEEING the flowers I was trying to know, but not succeeding. I find that when I spend hours exploring the colors and shapes and components and trying to communicate the "isness" of the flower, I come away with a much deeper sense of knowing. I have SO much more to learn, however.

iris lilies
5-11-23, 12:54pm
I do love Georgia O'Keefe and her quote points to exactly why I picked up watercolor. In my haste to garden or just to walk through the garden, I was missing the big picture--really SEEING the flowers I was trying to know, but not succeeding. I find that when I spend hours exploring the colors and shapes and components and trying to communicate the "isness" of the flower, I come away with a much deeper sense of knowing. I have SO much more to learn, however.

The floral art of Ikebana requires you to think about how the flower or leaf grew, where the sun hit it and how it responded, the maturity of it, etc. It is very deliberate and thoughtful.

I took a year of it and had to drop out for other activities, but I really liked Ikebana and I hang out with teachers of the art in my garden clubs.

littlebittybobby
5-15-23, 12:34pm
The floral art of Ikebana requires you to think about how the flower or leaf grew, where the sun hit it and how it responded, the maturity of it, etc. It is very deliberate and thoughtful.

I took a year of it and had to drop out for other activities, but I really liked Ikebana and I hang out with teachers of the art in my garden clubs.Okay---It's obvious that Faux/Lilies is a VERY(x4444)accomplished & talented artiste', in a variety of media! But yeah---Faux(I/L) have you considered learning the fine art of Deck Painting? It seems like a VERY logical and practical choice, for you. Yup.Fact o' the matter---your very first creation would prolly be worth some real money! Hope that helps you some. Here's wishing you kids a Happy Mothers Day! 5446

bae
5-16-23, 9:09pm
A lone heron on the beach today was trying to learn how to fish.

https://i.imgur.com/qrM21m5.jpg

He was having a bit of a bad hair day!

https://i.imgur.com/EP0o3Yn.jpg

frugal-one
5-17-23, 2:26am
Unbelievable photos bae!

happystuff
5-17-23, 8:58am
Really beautiful photos, bae. Thanks so much for sharing!

catherine
5-17-23, 10:12am
Beautiful pictures! The blue plumage is gorgeous, especially against the water.

We have a heron buddy at the lake whom we've named Bruce. He's also inspired a photo or two, but certainly not of the quality of yours.

iris lilies
5-17-23, 10:43am
This is not about photography, but it is about what marvels the sun will provide. This Iris fulva was orange- red when it lived in the city of St. Louis getting only limited sun.

Here in Hermann In full sun it is a deep red, nearly crimson. Yesterday when I noticed it I screamed!

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Edited: oh shoot, this photo is a shade darker than the iris. It really is RED!!!

littlebittybobby
5-17-23, 11:53am
Okay----Two Things. One, is that that littlebitty town waaay up in the middle o' nowhere just lost it's leading citizen hobbyist landscape photographer! His photos of a very barren area in flyover country were amay-zeen and ahhhh-sum. Yup. Just like that, he's gone. So anyway--item two: Here's a photo I found online, just for you kids. But yeah--I'm not shaming you for your consumeristic ways, by showing this VERY graphic photo of an unsightly eyesore that lowers property values. Nope. So anyway--its a pile of old Mussdangs.
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nswef
5-18-23, 10:43am
IL, sun is amazing!!!

happystuff
5-21-23, 4:23pm
Wow! Beautiful, IL! What color!!!

bae
6-4-23, 10:02pm
Experimenting with a new camera today. It is not at all meant for this sort of photo, nor was the lens I was using. This is a 2359 × 2061 crop from a 11648x8736 image, the bee here just happened to be lurking and I gave it a try.

https://i.imgur.com/uWeCkVf.jpg

bae
6-25-23, 6:40pm
Went up to the top of Blue Mountain in the Olympic National Park yesterday, ~6000 feet up a "fun" road/trail.

https://i.imgur.com/1qCRsUY.jpg

iris lilies
7-9-23, 12:04pm
Time for more flower show photos:

My Lilium henryi won two major awards in Chicago at the North American Lily Society: Best Species and Lily Stem with Most Blooms (40+). It was also 1st runner up for Best in show.


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KayLR
7-9-23, 3:51pm
Congratulations Iris!

rosarugosa
7-10-23, 6:58am
Congratulations, the lilies are lovely.

catherine
7-10-23, 7:20am
Congratulations, IL!

early morning
7-10-23, 1:03pm
That's wonderful IL - and that lily looks amazing!

happystuff
7-11-23, 6:12pm
Congrats, IL. Lovely displays!

JaneV2.0
7-11-23, 11:27pm
Dramatic color!

Tybee
7-13-23, 8:31am
Very impressed with lily stem with the most blooms!

KayLR
10-16-24, 6:06pm
Hey! No one has produced any art in the last year??? Really? Here's what I've been up to. Not sure why some are sideways.60736075607660776074

iris lilies
10-16-24, 8:09pm
Kay,, your needlework pieces are so pretty! I like the little four leaf clover on its red background. The feather is lovely. where do these go and what do you do with them?

catherine
10-16-24, 9:52pm
I agree. Kay, thanks for sharing your needlework! Such a wonderful form of art. I love the leaf and that shamrock!

On another note, I feel sad that Jane's post is only a couple of posts away. Pointing out how old since this thread has been updated, but also how much I still miss Jane's posts.

rosarugosa
10-17-24, 6:55am
Those are great, Kay. Your work is beautiful.

happystuff
10-17-24, 9:21am
Beautiful work, Kay! Thanks so much for sharing. Nice reminder for me to sit, relax and crochet a bit.

KayLR
10-17-24, 4:47pm
Kay,, your needlework pieces are so pretty! I like the little four leaf clover on its red background. The feather is lovely. where do these go and what do you do with them?

Where do they go? Nowhere in particular. I quit giving my pieces away unless I think it's something my sister might like. I ask her first. She does appreciate the work. No one else really wants them. I do get some things professionally framed, some I keep in my sewing room here to look at. They're mostly just for me and the hubs to look at. I just enjoy making them without any particular intended recipient.

Although I did donate a piece once to a fundraising auction; it got $400!

KayLR
10-17-24, 4:54pm
I agree. Kay, thanks for sharing your needlework! Such a wonderful form of art. I love the leaf and that shamrock!

On another note, I feel sad that Jane's post is only a couple of posts away. Pointing out how old since this thread has been updated, but also how much I still miss Jane's posts.

I know...I noticed that. I miss her too. :(

KayLR
6-6-25, 4:13pm
My latest finish. Oh, my aching fingertips! Can't get it to rotate. The bird should be on the right.
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iris lilies
6-6-25, 5:47pm
My latest finish. Oh, my aching fingertips! Can't get it to rotate. The bird should be on the right.
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that is lovely. The little hummingbirds are so inspirational. I like how the flower is just sketched in.

iris lilies
6-6-25, 5:49pm
Yesterday I won first place with this floral design. Our assignment was to interpret a piece of book cover art because our show was held in a library.

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This is the book cover art:

https://www.amazon.com/World-Fire-Jose-Ledezma-Rios/dp/1979525528

KayLR
6-6-25, 5:55pm
Wonderful interpretation and execution, Iris! Good on you!

catherine
6-6-25, 6:03pm
Love that, IL! I'm sure you have a special skill for interpreting book covers!

rosarugosa
6-7-25, 6:56am
Kay: I love your hummingbird! Is it embroidered on a tablecloth, or a piece of clothing, or as a picture or?

IL: What a perfect interpretation! Our local garden club does a "Books in Bloom" annual event at our library and oftentimes the arrangement doesn't seem to have much relation to the book.

iris lilies
6-7-25, 7:57am
Kay: I love your hummingbird! Is it embroidered on a tablecloth, or a piece of clothing, or as a picture or?

IL: What a perfect interpretation! Our local garden club does a "Books in Bloom" annual event at our library and oftentimes the arrangement doesn't seem to have much relation to the book.

Our flower show at the library was themed “ Books and Blooms” so same idea. If they have that flower show at the library each year they may have become tired of having a book theme.

happystuff
6-7-25, 8:28am
Love the hummingbird, Kay. They were my mother's favorite.

Very nice, IL! So much artistic talent on these forums!

KayLR
6-7-25, 11:45am
Kay: I love your hummingbird! Is it embroidered on a tablecloth, or a piece of clothing, or as a picture or?.

It was an online course over 8 weeks teaching silk shading and goldwork through the EGA (Embroiderers Guild). Its about 4 -5 in in size. Ill probably have it framed in a round frame.

The colors on the hummer are pure flat silk threads (not easy to work with) and the gold is real gold either spiral wrapped wire or gold paper wrapped thread.

My first time using the silk.

Tybee
6-8-25, 8:02am
It was an online course over 8 weeks teaching silk shading and goldwork through the EGA (Embroiderers Guild). Its about 4 -5 in in size. Ill probably have it framed in a round frame.

The colors on the hummer are pure flat silk threads (not easy to work with) and the gold is real gold either spiral wrapped wire or gold paper wrapped thread.

My first time using the silk.

Amazing!

KayLR
6-8-25, 11:08am
I just got the critique from the instructor. �� She was kind, but I'm still a bit disappointed in myself. Trying not to be because this was a difficult piece and new techniques for me. But still...Anyway, I learned a lot.

littlebittybobby
6-13-25, 9:00pm
okay---i been wondering(though not very much) WHY we don't all have a thread discussing POETRY, such as by Yeats & Keats and James Joyce & Joyce Kilmer, Whitman and Longfellow, etal & etc.? but yeah--though I could care less about poetry, I know you kids prolly eat it right up! Yup. Maybe summa you kids have even wroten some poems on the wall while serving time, that you could share.

catherine
6-13-25, 9:46pm
okay---i been wondering(though not very much) WHY we don't all have a thread discussing POETRY, such as by Yeats & Keats and James Joyce & Joyce Kilmer, Whitman and Longfellow, etal & etc.? but yeah--though I could care less about poetry, I know you kids prolly eat it right up! Yup. Maybe summa you kids have even wroten some poems on the wall while serving time, that you could share.

Here's one for you--one you might like, not by Keats or Whitman, but by Vince Suzadail, Jr.

My Old Car

She wasn't worth much
But I loved her I did
Like nothing I loved before
She was rusty and dusty
She didn't smell good
And had a dent in her passenger door
I was only sixteen
Thought I was cool
Driving around feeling badder than bad
The greatest feeling on earth
To have your own wheels
Even though she belonged to my dad
There was a tear in the front seat
And the radio was broke
It took a while to start
With a manual choke
She had a manual transmission
And the headlights were weak
She had a miss in the engine
And a slight oil leak
But I held up my head and felt like a star
Driving around in that rusty old car.

Here's a silly song by me for a friend who was downsizing (sung to the tune of He Leadeth Me) This one isn't too highbrow either.

Get rid of it!
Get rid of it!
You really don’t need all this sh*t
What e’er you do
What e’er you be
With much less stuff
You are truly free

You’re truly free!
You’re truly free!
With far less crap
You'll live happily!

And once you’ve dumped
All that debris
Stand up and shout:
"Lord, my stuff ain’t me!”

littlebittybobby
6-13-25, 10:06pm
okay---TYVM, Catherine. But yeah---here's a photo o' a car like my first car---only mine was missing the hubcaps. I didn't mind. (see photo) I was a fan o' the getto-cruisng Chevy 'Pallas. Yup.
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catherine
6-13-25, 10:17pm
Yeah, the Chevy Impalas were nice. I used to drive my elderly great-aunt around in hers. It was yellow.

happystuff
6-17-25, 7:45am
I like your silly song, catherine. Very cute!