More Spring Sightings

Indian Plum also called osoberry, is an early blooming deciduous shrub native to the entire West Coast.

It is a member of the rose family, and thrives in low land habitats near forested areas. Typically it is found west of the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest and west of the Sierra Nevada in California.

In the Pacific Northwest, blooms of white bells begin appearing on the branches as early as February. The flowers turn into clusters of small, seeded fruits, that attract birds, including hummingbirds.

There is a history of Native American use of the shrub for food and medicinal purposes, however very little commercial harvesting of the fruit is undertaken today.

I have had several sightings of Indian Plum while walking my dog on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.





I have had several sightings of Indian Plum while walking my dog on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.

Spring is coming!

Mandalas and STARS

I will be doing four art sessions with the participants of the STARS Program at the Senior Center in Olympia, Washington.

The STARS and Respite Care Program offers supervised therapeutic activities in a group setting for frail seniors and disabled adults. With excellent staff and volunteers, STARS is able to offer fun and creative client focused activities along with excellent personal care. While their family member is enjoying the day at STARS, caregivers are able to receive a needed break, enabling them to continue to give loving care.

Today was the first day of my art program with the group. I brought in books with photographs of mandalas and shared about how to create a mandala. The media we used for this activity was colored markers.

Enjoying being creative........


STARS Program Director, Cheri Knighton, assists one of the seniors

"On The Go"

Watercolour artist Carol Carter has an interesting project 'on the go'. She is creating a series of portraits of her son - and she started 23 years ago! She's wondering whether, if she continues, he will become the only person documented throughout his life in paint.


Watercolour portraits of her son by Carol Carter

You can read about a recent exhibition of these portraits in Opening! Schmidt Art Center and you can see them at Here's Looking at You Contemporary Portraits Schmidt Art Center, Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, IL. The Exhibition continues until March 6th.

With my grandson on the way, I might just borrow this idea.

Primroses

I have a bad case of spring fever and it is only February!

Yesterday I saw some rhododendrons blooming and color in branches (photos in yesterday's blog).

Today, I could not resist the primroses with early spring blooms in almost every color of the rainbow. I love their sweet fragrance. I bought a flat and planted them in my front yard where I can see all the time.

Oops! I just learned that they appreciate full sun in the spring, but must have semi shade as the temperatures warm. Good thing they are quite tolerant of being transplanted, even when they are in bloom, because I will have to move them as they are in a very sunny spot in my yard.

Until then, I will enjoy them as they are.....

Color Coming!

I realize the groundhog saw his shadow, but on my walk this afternoon around Capital Lake in Olympia, Washington, I saw color in branches and flowers BLOOMING!

Signs of spring in Olympia taken with my camera phone:


Rhododendrons starting to BLOOM in February!


Notice the colors of the branches of this bush

YES, spring is coming!

Where Do You Start When Making Art?

What triggers your art?
What are your sources of inspiration?
What are your reference sources?

Katherine Tyrrell, artist and author, has a poll going this month on her blog. asking artists, where do you start when making art? I look forward to the discussion at the end of the poll which is Saturday, February 27th.

These are the options - and the poll is multiple choice so you can choose all which are relevant. She suggest sticking to those which are your usual practice so we get the most insight into what most poll respondents do most of the time.

My imagination
My ideas and concepts
Paintings by past masters
Life and what I see around me
My sketches
My sketches and my photos
My reference photos
Ther people's reference photos
Current trend/whatever seems to sell
Commissions

Butterfly Garden

Have you been to a Butterfly Garden?

It is a treat to have butterflies fluttering around you and be surrounded by colorful flowers. I remember visiting my first Butterfly Garden at Seaside, Oregon. I went searching for it again, but learned that it no longer exists. I will share some of my photos from a bygone era.


Spicebush Swallowtail


Queen


Polydamas Swallowtail


Julia


Buckeye

The next time you have a chance to visit a Butterfly Garden,
DON'T MISS IT!