Golden Dozen

For photographers the best times to take photographs are shortly after sunrise and again just before the sun sets when the daylight is redder and softer than during the middle of the day. This softer light is what I call "golden light".

So here is a "golden dozen", actually thirteen (I guess a golden bakers dozen), pictures from my garden at the end of a sunny day.

Camellia

Chive flower

Clematis and Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Hydrangea

Iris

Lilac

Peony

Wisteria

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A garden surprise? I have an artichoke growing!

Just one mind you, here is a second look at it:

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Here is a continuation of group names theme from the last post.

Did you know that a group of porcupines is called a prickle.

try these made up ones:

a scamper of squirrels

a plunge of waterfalls

a brouhaha of louts

a crunch or maybe a dent of parkers

a wave of kayakers

a goggle of swimmers 

a dictation of secretaries

a clipping of gardeners

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A YouTube video with unexpected ending:

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And from the studio:

"Skedans 2", a varnished watercolour: 

Art news: 

One painting was accepted into the "Oil and Water" show at the South Delta Artists Guild Gallery 1710:

That's all for this week,

happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

Gillian

Signs of summer?

Do the arrival of Rufous Hummingbirds and apple, early clematis and lilac blossoms mean that summer will be here soon? I hope so, I am ready.

 

think this might be a rufous hummingbird, they don't stay here long

apple blossoms are dealing with the rain, cool temperatues and lack of insects -- hope we get some apples this fall

 the early clematis seems to take bad weather in stride

here is another picture of the Rufous Hummingbird,

 

 and the Anna's Hummingbird is below, notice the different gorgette (throat pattern) and the reddish sides of the Rufous

 

 

lots and lots of lilac

 

I have planted beans for the third time this spring, each time a few come up, maybe now I will have enough to fill the rows.

 

I am ready for warmer weather even if it means I might have to water the garden occasionally but I have been so busy painting and the cooler weather does make it easier to focus on that.

 

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In the studio:

 

Great news, two of my paintings have been accepted into the "oil and water" exhibition at Gallery 1710 (Delta Artists Guild) which opens at the beginning of June.

 

"Haida Song"- watercolour 18" X 24"

 

 

"Watchful" - watercolour 24" X 18"

 

Both are painted on watercolour paper and varnished; the first is on stretcher bars (first I stretch the paper then paint it) and the second is painted then mounted on a cradled exhibition panel.

 

Both are inspired by my visit to Haida Gwaii last summer.

 

 

 

I have also painted three more gargoyles, this one I saw and photographed in Albi, France.

 

 

The other two gargoyles will have to wait until next time, the pictures I took seem to have gotten "lost" somewhere on my computer for now.

 

 



 Brief today, but my paintbrushes are calling me again, bye for now.

 

Happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian.