April, 4 celsius (39.2 F)
Sleet and sunshine
There has been sleet and then sunshine, alternately. Spring in the forest. Not much snow any more, some at the back of the house.
Caput mortuum
On the watercolor below I used the fine tone Caput Mortuum. I think this dark reddish brown pigment is perfect tint of the ground after snow has melted. The shade varies, this pigment is Sennelier 919.
After a while there is new life after Caput Mortuum (lat.)
Crocuses
One third of the snow is still left. No green leaves on the ground. But yesterday I found some crocuses. At the same time the first butterfly came to suck nectar out of them. Lemon butterfly with bright yellow wings! I was so happy there were those five crocuses for it to suck.
Painting and happiness
How to to paint when you feel yourself discouraged and weary? How to find strenght to paint?
It can happen with colors. Select a bright watercolorpigment and let it go with water.
Melting snow and moisture
Snow is melting rapidly in the forest. At the same time the amount of mold and moisture increases. Sunny days are so welcomed as I am a bit allergic to moisture!
The silence we almost lost
At this era of lock down many of us have realized how we had already lost the sense of silence, peace and tranquility at our busy lives.
Nature can help us. Books can help us.
Austin Kleon (“a writer hos draws”) refers in his blog to the columns by American writer Brian Doyle. Doyle has written a book One long river of song: notes on wonder, which has been called “the greatest nature essay ever”. One is able to read Doyle`s nice columns on different subjects online at the address: theamericanscholar.com
The shades of the trees
Early spring in the forest
Winter blues
This is a small watercolor painting I made Yesterday. I tried to give watercolor some more light by taking color off from the paper with a sponge or paper towel while the paper was damp.