Raven's Nest Studio

Raven's Nest Studio
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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Emphasis on Color

I love it when synchronicity strikes and I have 2 objects with the same colors. The card and the rose cache pot not only have the same colors but the flowers on the card echo the shapes of the roses. If I had the time, I would make a painting of this. Alas, I only have the time to play with photography today. I am still hard at work on a large painting of a landscape.

I am also painting a sandwich board to publicize the open studios that BallardWorks has every second Saturday of the month, 6:00-9:00 pm on June 12. The extremes of painting, but sign painters have often been artists as well, historically.


For the next composition, I changed the look of the arrangement by going Asian. Again, I chose an object which repeated the colors of the roses.
 I simply love the shape and color of this tiny ladle. It is so practical as well. I could play for hours, rearranging this, but who has the time. We can't let perfection get in the way of good enough.



My last photo is a more traditional arrangement. Again, I selected an object that replicates a color in the roses. I had to think a little about this one, but I am pleased with the result.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Dress for Rain and Walk in Beauty

Two weeks of rain nurtures lupine forests. Growing so fast that you can almost see them, the steady moisture really gives the lupine a boost. The overcast skies and/or rain allow the colors to show in full saturation. I love the rain and don't really mind the gray skies. I guess that is why I love Seattle.

This is the time to get out and walk the neighborhoods. The climate here is such that you can grow almost anything and Seattle gardeners love the challenge. There are lots of Windmill Palms now and olive trees and I have even seen a banana tree in the Magnolia neighborhood. The water nearby moderates the temperatures such that figs are becoming commonplace.

Roses are glorious as long as you plant varieties that are not prone to black spot and mildew. As the summer warms up, the herbs come into full fragrant flower. Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram, and Bay grow like weeds. Tomatoes and Basil can be more of a challenge until the heat of July.