Dahlia, Plant for Climate Change, Ballpoint

Dahlia are amazing. They have a wide rage of flowers and bloom types. All seem to do well in the climate change conditions. I love the flamboyant, gorgeous huge flower heads. However, the common small size with a centre full of pollen is ideal for bees. As I watched an average size bee enjoyed the take, another slightly bigger came. The smaller immediately flew away.. later on it came back when the bigger left. I managed to take note of the two. Further away there're bigger dahlia bush. There're bigger crowd of bees. It seems there are territories and there're taking turn places. Bees do not fight or I hadn't seen them fight yet.

I went for an observation. This year the bees are huge. They look happy! I think the bee crisis is over... at least at these dahlia bushes!

Ballpoint Garden Sketch, Dahlia, plant for climate change garden

Petunia in Climate Change Garden, Ballpoint

Another observation of the effect of climate change in my garden is petunia. It was a plant that came back from last year. It survives but not great due to snap cyclone cold wind and rain. The mix with hot air of summer season helps it to survive only just. The old summer with lots of blooming petunia has gone. It has some protection from under a dahlia bush. The branches are adaptive to tight place... by taking notes of my observation through drawing, I am mentally prepared myself to be adaptive.. It's not going to be easy to cope with sudden changes .. but we will survive! .. hopefully better than the petunia! Take care.

Petunia, Ballpoint

Fever Few, Plant for Climate Change Garden, Ballpoint

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This is a herbal plant that has some properties to be used for arthritis and migraine. I t is spreading and randomness with daisy like white flowers. It does not need much care. It can grow on poor soil, clay bank and cope with change in climate. The height about 1m make it ideal for backdrop of lower flowering plant, random in with taller flowering plant or just by themselves. It is an ideal feature for Fairy tale style cottage garden. For those who love simplicity, masses of pure white flowers against dark green is as fresh as a glass of champagne in a hot day.

I like to mix the random masses of fever few daisy whites with blue, mauve hydrangea and roses...

I do not like the taste of Fever Few much. Then I look at the behaviour of insects in the garden. They seem not to like these flowers either. The bees touched them and then moved away. Then I realised the plant can be used to deter insects. While loving nature, not many of us like to be disturbed all the time by buzzing insects.  I had a bite from a yellow jacket sometimes ago.  I was sore for three days. On a positive note, I think it was good for my immune system!..  It also raised my level of alertness and increased my observation skills! :-).  I think to have peace in the flowering garden, I'll have a place for myself. I think I'll plant fever few where I'd like to sit for a relaxing moment away from the buzzing bees!

When other plants are struggle with change in climate, this plant thrives without hard work, takes care of health as herbal, relaxes the mind with lively, elegant images and take care of the bees for your moment in the garden. It is indeed a fairy!

Ballpoint, Fever Few, Plant for Climate Change Garden

One and a Half Daisies, Climate Change, Ballpoint

I love the look of a weeping blossom to enhance the Japanese features in my garden. However, blossom only last for about two weeks. I notice the trailing and mass flowering habit of African daisies. The colours are lovely too, mauve, white, bronze.. their long flowering season and low maintenance gave me an idea.. I'd like to make a weeping blossom look alike summer daisies umbrella! African daisies are fast growing plant I would full fill my dream of sitting under the flowering daisies umbrella in no time! Imagine an umbrella with daisies flowering for all summer days! :-)

The plan was in action. The daisies was supported with strings on a pole. Half a meter up, the plant becomes bushy. The growth of the plant sudden stop at half a meter. All the buds were not open as usual. They turned black and dropped off. At the beginning of this year, the summer time. The plant was positioned away from wind and have all the warm north sun. After all the effort, I have one and a half daisies! Daisies are the most easy to have in any garden.. but NOT anymore. It's the climate change!

One daisy is half open and the other is drooping. One and a half, that's all I have. My summer dream is shattered. I am keeping them in this drawing!

The leaves react to the cold snaps, heat, sudden rains by contracting to a third or fourth of normal size. They are also more curly than normal. I also made notes of flowers that were not there by recording the stalks where the buds dropped off. This year there're a lot of horntails. I included two dancing in the air.

I still have memories of lots of daisies hanging off walls in warm summer days.. what I see in front of me under effect of climate change we are facing, memories probably stay as memories forever.. Good bye daisies!.. Good bye the dream sitting under flowering summer daisies umbrella!.. Good bye daisies!.. Good bye!

Garden Sketch, Daisies in Climate Change

Sherlock, Weta and the Ants, Ballpoint Art

Time to pull up finished bulb plants, I was amazed to find a few seeds every time I pulled up a dead stalk. "Ah! this is how this bull plant multiply". I was so happy to learn that I could have some more next year! so I went and planted them. I found a weta, NZ native insect, under a tree. After examining it, it was not a shell. It was a dead weta because of the uneven colour! I was so proud of my observation! so I put it on a plastic garden scoop. Some ants were around so I waited for them to go away.... I looked at the dead weta and tempted to use it as a subject for drawing

Suddenly I saw the tail end of the weta moved from side to side. "Oh! my God it's still alive" " No it could not be" then I think of Sir David Attenborough of the art of flying of birds.. the wing mechanism. I thought there must be a mechanism at the tail end of the weta to make it move with air movement. There was no air movement around.... 

I thought of the case of Sherlock I watched late last night and could not understand the images and the things in the head! Then I realised it was something between our observation and the truth, illusion. Sometimes observations do not give us the truth but illusion instead and illusion can be so big that truth is an illusion! To know the truth we must use speculation, interpretation .. at the end the truth come to us through logic, science!

"Ah! the tail must be moved by the ants! There're must be more ants inside!" Another few minutes, I was right. I was so pleased that I could solve the mystery of the dead weta! :-D... and understand what Sherlock was going on about .. :-DD

After all the ants were going away (because of rocking barn scoop!), I moved the weta inside for drawing!.. It was a bit of a challenge. I was not sure whether it was a good idea either. Anyway, I tried at least I might have a chance to see where I fail!.. It was hard to see even under the glass. The weta was half eaten. Some parts were transparent, some were not... After a moment, I thought I had the drawing look like the weta.. then to finish off I add some ants!.. It was fun!

More, now I understand Sherlock Holmes' shows a bit more. All thanks to the dead weta... and.. the ants! :-DD

Marvellous Insect Ballpoint Drawing, Weta and the Ants

Connect with Nature, Impatient, Ballpoint Garden Sketch

After two day rain and cyclone wind, I went out in the garden. While waiting for better weather, I took little cuttings of impatient for drawing. They were a bit battered so I included the falling flower.

The hand made pottery art of the country died years ago but I still hang on to a few. They are perfect as a way to bring beauty of plants and flowers to the eyes.

Impatient has many colours, white, pink, salmon orange, light red, magenta..It is very easy to grow and perfect to fill in shady places. Because of a wide range of colour, I think it is perfect for floral home garden themes. More importantly, it shows great ability to cope with climate change.

Certainly this plant will bring charm, beauty and excitement to garden lovers! More joy and less work! Enjoy!

Beautiful Ballpoint Sketch, Impatient

Black Berries with Climate Change Effect, Ballpoint

After two days of rain, I went out and checked the black berries. It was hot when the wind stopped. Some berries were forced to be ripen early so they were under sized and the taste was not good. Many fell onto the ground. I managed to collect a few. I missed the drawing exercise. I made a selection and arranged them for a drawing. I noted that even there was no time gap between the time I cut the leaves off the plant and the arrangement on the table. The leaves immediately curved up like they were drying out. This is the effect of the intensity of the heat in the garden. It's the effect of climate change!... The story of climate change seems to be even in these small berries and its leaves! I wonder how the climate effect would be in larger scale of our food production in the near future..

After drawing, it's time to taste. It did not take long. The chemical free berries just turned into liquid when they touched the lips. They are extremely delicate with a little bent in taste at the end... I gave back a third to the birds and the rest for ice cream dessert after dinner..

Garden ripen black berries is my favourite little step in the relationship with nature..

Direct Ballpoint Sketch, Black Berries

Chamomile and the Bees, Ballpoint Art

Here is a ballpoint sketch from my garden seat. Masses of small white flowers with protruded centres, slender stalks and delicate leaves are features of Chamomile.

Chamomile is a herbal plant. It grows anywhere. Chamomile tea is also popular, very affordable. I have a few in the garden just for the pleasure of having it in full circle. I keep looking at plants that are performing well in all aspect of climate change. It is a sign of low maintenance so that I do not have to make constant extra effort looking after them. Look like Chamomile is a good candidate. The bees love it too.

Another little step for a relationship with nature.. enjoy and God bless!

Wonderful Direct Ballpoint Sketch from Nature, Chamomile and the Bees

Art Of Earth, Passion Fruits on Vine, Ballpoint

It's the third year the plant is in production. I've noticed this year, the plant have more fruits than last year.

My favourite Xmas decoration! I've just discovered these green passion fruits look like decoration on xmas tree! Maybe this is where the ball shape xmas decoration idea come from. Can't help but looking at them. They are my favourite decoration! After summer, I can taste them with a spoon! It becomes my favourite plant.

Sketching them with a cup of hot chocolate drink in a comfort garden seat ... I am not sure whether it is the ballpoint hobby or my imagination of ice cream dessert with passion fruit.. that kept me going .. :-D ..another direct sketch for "From My Garden Seat" Series .. my little step to develop a natural relationship with nature..

A good relationship with nature will surely give some comfort for the rough road ahead with climate change! Enjoy!

Beautiful Direct Sketch from Nature, Passion Fruits on Vine

Flowering Japanese Maple, Ballpoint

From my garden seat, I think I am going to create a series with ballpoint pen and paper for the time our life facing climate change and economic difficulties. It's called recession art! Starting with the garden, I think it is about time to get in touch with nature.. to know is to love it!

Naturally leaves cover flowers of Japanese maple. That's why I did not notice them for so many years. We are all too busy with everyday duties or routine. In this drawing I deliberately show the flowers. There are seven arms of each leaf, very beautiful and elegant. Sound simple? Yes. Then I keep going until I was puzzled and dazzled with the drawing like I'd been with the real tree. After the features and characters of the subject, I hope to capture the feel. These effect is the thing that takes my mind off and leave my bare soul with nature.

Do you see the flowers behind the leaves?

Wonderful Ballpoint of Japanese Maple Tree

Carnation and the Bee, Ballpoint

These are single bloom carnation. There was a butterfly came by the dashed off. I missed it may be because it saw me sitting there. I managed to include the bee instead! :-)

Flowers in garden are an easy way to attract insects, bees and butterflies which are vital for pollination.

I am not an expert in gardening. The carnation was planted in a tight place. However she survives. She made a tone of buds. Some manage to bloom. Many just dry off because of climate change plus my poor gardening skill! .. However, in the art sense, these elements gave more features and drama.. something you do not see in florists' shops! :-D

You see the story in my garden told by the carnation, dry, tattered (see the flower that had petal fell off revealing the centre and the one with no petal at all..)... it told me to go and get the water can quickly!.... :-D

Hope you enjoy the story!.. of our time! :-)

Wonderful Ballpoint Sketch, Garden Flowers and Bee

Spring in the Yard, a Tribute to Van Gogh in Watercolour

I kept this post in a draft form because it is special to me.   But after reading a post on LI that it is 125 years since the death of Van Gogh.  I decided to post mine to share.

It was a rare opportunity to visit a home garden in spring. For a composition, I looked down from a deck into a garden corner and decided that she's mine. It looks ambitious. It looks overloaded. I knew with the sweeping wash and mute colour movement at the moment in watercolour art scene, I think this is the one that would be avoided by many watercolour painters at all cost. "What are you going to do?" asked one of my friends. "Paint it, I am going to paint it" I replied.  I know people might think I was out of my mind.  At the same time I was not so sure.  Facing the challenge of  nature with its intensity and complexity is not easy.  I might fail but that was the point.  If I did not seize the opportunity to stretch my boundary now, I would never do it.  Looking at all dazzling colours in front of me, I thought about one of my heroes, Vincent Van Gogh.

I thought about Van Gogh because he came from the land of flowers. He was fearless in his approach to painting direct and was brilliant in portraying the essence of nature with its complexity. With that thought, I did not have much to lose but a lot to gain. I jumped straight in capturing the flowering honey suckle wall, the garden furniture set, the pots full of bulb flowers, a small blossom tree and finally few black birds! I though about the tulip fields of Netherlands as I added the red tulips to the pot on the table.  I thought about the blue iris field he painted as I added blues irises to the pots around the table. I tried to keep to colours pure, intense and raw with descriptive strokes capturing features of elements (the technique I saw in his paintings) in the same time I tries to retain the glittering effect of sun light.

This is, if I may, a tribute to Van Gogh, a master who showed me the joy and excitement in nature with his brilliant and "could not be more direct" technique! It took courage to capture the "Wow" factor in nature the way he did.  "That courage and soul have become Van Gogh legacy! " was my thought.

When I look at my " Spring in the Yard", I feel dazzled and happy.  I think I have captured the effect of spring in this garden corner. I realised the biggest benefit of living with art is an opportunity to live with a soul! I feel humble.

Wonderful Exciting Spring Garden

Porch Garden, Watercolor Painting Garden

It' was a rare occasion that I had, painting a porch garden on site.  This was the home of one of the friend of the Society.   The house came with a large garden but I thought the porch garden was so charming.  It had a few Spanish plant pots.  A large slice of an old native tree that the owner had decorated and kept it for a treasured memory.  It looked like a gigantic wooden plate.  A hand crafted chair made with collected pieces added charm.  Cushion and floor rug added comfort.  It obviously was made with a creative spirit.  This painting become my piece of fond memory!

Feeding Time, Watercolor Painting Garden and Animals

The palm around the pond was left to grow wild to protect the fish from the king fisher, heron and sometimes duck and cat.  There were a lots of fear.  Sometimes they didn't even come up!  t take the opportunities of feeding the fish to make them get used to me, my voice, reflection of feeding hand and the click of the food jar.  They know and the get excited.  I love the joy they have.  I used strong vibrant colours and pattern to record the moment.  Hope you like it!

Heaven On Earth, Watercolor Painting Figure

This is my painting in a day dreaming mood. Talking to birds? Yes, "human is never good to be alone" said the Bible! :-D  I love to see all women enjoying themselves. Honestly, I've never been enjoying diagrammatic, static and soul-less or fragmented or just a torso nude!  so here's the whole thing of a happy woman :-D :-DD! Love to paint pictures to make women feel good being women!
One of my favourites I keep for myself. Have a fantastic day everyone!  Enjoy! :-)

Beautiful exotic water-colour painting

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Afternoon in Tropical Garden, Watercolor Painting Landscape

There were so many possible composition in this tropical garden.  I was attracted to the lily pond, the gan a in full bloom and massive leaves of the tropical plant that might be seen only in the deep jungle of a tropical forest.  There were lovely mama duck and her three duckings enjoying the water.  I love the tropical feel.  Down the stream were trees up to 50 m tall.  The foliage creates an ambience with dazzling tropical flowers.. I wanted them all. I must admit I was a bit bamboozled with the choices and then the battle to take them all in.  Here it is.  I can't keep my eyes off it ..  I can feel how Monet managed to put down the colours of his garden .. I can imagine Van Gogh with the blue iris field.  He had the birds I ave the duck and the ducklings... can't be happier! :-)

Beautiful ambience of sunny afternoon in a gorgeous featured tropical garden

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THE JOY OF GARDENING, Watercolor Painting Figure

This is how I feel about gardening!  It's more .. kind of a communication with nature...lady style!

GOLDFINCH IN COTTAGE GARDEN, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden

I love summer, a summer in a cottage garden.  I went to visit a garden center, a striking red day lily caught my eye.  I bought the pot, the only one and went home.  I love the lily.  The excitement in a home garden accelerates to a peak when the flowers bloom to welcome my favorite visitors, the birds!.  I thought about the goldfinch that come to the garden in small flock, the goldfinch that spark like summer flowers in the sun.  With a brush, I gathered 'Scarlet Orbit' Day Lily, Yellow Coreposis, and Verbena for their intense colors.  To help with the design I had coreposis and verbena in pots so I can move them around a bit.  I wanted the painting as a summary of the summer heat and its excitement.  When I stopped I realized there was a flock of ten goldfinch in the picture!  The next day I learnt that day lily just last for a day!  I was glad I had not missed it, an unforgettable memory!

Striking Watercolor Painting Summer flowers and Birds, 29.5x42cm

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BLACK BIRD AND THE BERRIES, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden

The first time I saw a black bird behave this way.  It sat on the lawn instead of running around.  Normally when a black bird saw me it would keep a distance.  This time it did not move but sat on the lawn.  I heard some humming strange noise.  I looked around I saw nothing then I realized the noise came from the bird.  Then I look at its direction,  I realized the bird did not care about my existence because of the ripening berries I grew near the fence.  I painted the bird with its fascination of the berries using the landscape composition of the popular path toward the sandpit.

Fantastic Watercolor Outdoor Painting Black Bird, flowers and Berries, 29.5x42cm

If you have any queries relating to the painting or would like a painting by commission, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.

NZ FANTAILS IN COTTAGE GARDEN, Watercolor Painting Birds and Cottage Garden

The randomness of a cottage garden create charm and excitement.  It seems that every summer I come back to create a courtyard garden for the season.  To obtain the randomness, I go around the garden with a brush paper and palette.  With a brush I gathered French Lavender, Petunia (mix), Yellow Coreposis and Impatient from realistic to abstract.  Along the way I managed to incorporate the fantails, NZ native bird that come to the garden very often to show me how they catch insects and look after the garden.  With wonderful flying pattern, they make the garden alive and exciting.  

This painting would be a nice way to create visual interest for young children in dull winter days or dull moments.  It could be used to help babies to count, add, subtract, multiply and divide while recognizing shapes, forms, colors.  Subtle forms were also used to help babies to further explore and relate to the beautiful natural world and the way it works using eyes and little fingers with their mums, the first teachers. And perhaps develop early imagination! A unique way to treasure and celebrate a new relationship in the family, the meeting of the minds, the fun and love to be shared through generations!

Wonderful Watercolor Outdoor Painting of  Summer Cottage Garden, Flowers
and Birds, NZ Fantails, 29.5x42cm

If you have any queries relating to the painting, please leave me a message via the contact form gadget on the top right corner of the blog.  Thank you for your interest.