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 We’ve lived on our country property, an acre and a half, for the last eighteen years and started planting the gardens, mostly ornamental, some veggies, soon after moving in. As time’s passed, of course the gardens have changed and matured, some plants outgrowing their spaces, some being transplanted, others dying, new finds being brought home (regularly!)  Any gardener’s biggest nemesis here in Sonoma County are gophers, so everything has to be planted with wire cages protecting the roots. Unfortunately this is not possible around volunteer plants, those nice surprises that pop up each year.

 

As our yearly growing season begins, I start looking at the changing display around me and see enticing combinations of color and form. Here in Northern California that’s delightfully early: some things begin to sprout again in January or early February, last frost possibly mid-April. I’ve been a gardener for most of my life and generally know what to expect in blossom season; but of course I am always newly delighted by a certain time of day, an interesting effect of lighting or weather, simply looking from an unexpected angle. And many times down through the years, I’ve noted what a great painting possibility lies before me. And never get to it! In a typical year, I take an art business trip each month, and when at home have regular chores as well as the ever-shifting needs of my art career. Since I’m the general maintenance guy for the landscaping and for all the mowing of our property, when I do have the time to be out in the garden, it’s usually to do whatever task is crying out for attention. It’s often difficult to make the time to create artwork out in the plantings.

 

This year, of course, has been anything but typical. Staying at home for the last five months has given me the luxury of more time to do artwork, and some of the happiest hours have been my plein air garden forays.

 

When painting outdoors I always use soft pastel for portability and ease of handling. I have with me pieces of archival sanded paper cut into the three main formats: square, comfortable rectangle (proportioned say 3 x 4 or 2 x 3) and long and thin (proportioned 1 x 2 or 1 x 3). These are taped down to drawing boards, usually gator board, and covered with glassine (slick, non-static paper) for protection against smearing the finished pastel painting. I’m ready for any scene that calls to me and don’t have to fumble with taping down paper in the wind, etc.

 

The first garden painting I did this year was actually at the end of our driveway. A neighbor has a dramatic row of exuberant pink blossomed plum trees with masses of daffodils beneath, an exciting and colorful combination when most everything else is still various shades of green. I had to work quickly as rainstorms are a constant this time of year.

 

 

Exuberance    pastel   10 x 14

 

Weeks later in our own backyard, several plants gave a compelling floral display. Quince, Buddleja, flowering White Magnolia (Michelia) and our lemon tree. Colors ranged from the rich coral of the quince and yellow of the lemon fruit to the subtle lavender of the Buddleja. This pastel was done on a sunny day allowing me to use light and shadow to better differentiate where each plant stands in space. When I paint on location, I prefer to be fairly accurate to what I see before me. It’s in the studio that I take much greater liberties with shape, time of day and hue.

 

 

Quince and Springtime Neighbors   pastel   9 x 12

 

A few sunny weeks later, noted artists Paul Kratter and Mary Fassbinder joined me (safely) on the property to paint whatever caught our fancies. I chose to put down on paper what I’d been looking at for days: A gorgeous flaming cerise Leptospermum paired with Phlomis, Spanish Lavender, a small olive tree and yellow-green Coleonema (sunset gold Breath of Heaven.)  Such fun, such contrasts!

 

 

Red, Yellow and Friends   pastel   9 x 12

 

On one of the wilder corners of our place is a combination of Photinia and pink Leptospermum. I wanted to capture the sense of slope that these are growing on as well as the contrast of late afternoon sunshine and shadow within the large shrub with it’s snowball-shaped blossom clusters.

 

 

Afternoon Display   pastel   13.5 x 10.5

 

This next view caught my eye for the contrast of rich pink Cistus (rock rose) and the cool blues of rosemary. Early morning light seemed to dance over the tops of each shrub, leaving lower branches in the shade. You can see by the angle of the shadows in this painting as well as some others in this series that we live on very uneven terrain allowing for some dramatic horticultural staging (and a real challenge when it comes to mowing!)

 

 

Early Color   pastel   12 x 9

 

The final scene is one of the few garden paintings here at home I’ve done previously. However, as I said before, every year is different and I was happy to revisit this motif. I love this semi-transparent blue glass birdbath when the sun’s shining through it. And when it’s surrounded with day lilies and lavender, the combination can’t be improved on. I was particularly pleased with the strong handling of the lilies contrasting with the wispy, soft verticals of the lavender.

 

 

Blue Glass   pastel   12 x 9

 

 I hope that my writing has been not only entertaining and possibly educational, but has also given you some ideas. If you look though my website you’ll see under Paintings a heading for Garden Memories. Pictured are examples of many gardens paintings I’ve created in the past in both pastel on paper and oil on canvas. I’d love to (safely) visit your property and discover some horticultural magic you’d like memorialized to enjoy now and to pass on to future generations of your family. Let me know when I can schedule a garden sitting!