It's been a long time since the artists here have shared anything. So, I am going to say "Happy Spring to All" with an image of one of my paintings.

Wow, lovely, thank you, Lynn! Did those grow in your garden? You must have a green thumb as well as a rainbow-bright hand.
Spring here, gorgeous day, but this is CA, so we have poppies, ceanothus (CA wild lilac), iris, and the later blooming fruit trees in the orchards.
Makes me wish I were outside with paints instead of trying to catch up at my office.

Beauty is a joy amid all the chaos, as is the gift to share it.
Laurel

Did I grow these? Yes and no. We have an awful problem with deer eating tulips, so these are a representaion of many tulips of which I've taken photos at other people's houses, nurseries, and a few of my own. Plus, some that just "grew in my mind". I think I have a rainbow brain and I also am an avid gardener. My life is all about color. Last year when I relandscaped the front and one side of my house I put many tulip bulbs in, right up near the front door. I'm daring those white tailed deer to stand on my front walk and eat the flowers right under my windows. LOL So far so good. Some are just beginning to bloom.

Iris painting, spring 2012

Lovely iris, Lynn! The watercolor technique is amazing. I can imagine the multicolored blob I would end up with if I tried that.

The iris are in bloom around here and I always want to try growing them when I see and smell those lovely flowers. That probably would go better than trying to paint them! The art gene skipped my generation.

Julianne

Beautiful, Lynn! I have no artistic talent whatsoever and I do so admire yours!! I did take a photo of my only blooming iris the other day--just after a rain. This is a crop closeup.

Whoa! Fantastic photo Pat! Mind if I use it for a painting?
Julianne - iris are pretty easy to grow if you don't put compost too close to them and if you keep the rhisomes bare. I put new ones in last year in a different place than where I used to have them because I had an invasion of iris borers that ate the insides out of all the rhisomes before I knew what was happening. However, my new ones in the new place are incredible. I have to photograph them next time the sun is on them.
Glad you ladies enjoyed the painting. Lynn

OK - here's an early spring wish this year, with another tulip painting, to wish you all a peaceful evening and hope that spring comes soon to those of us who live where it's cold!

Lynn,
This sure lets us know spring is on its way, just beautiful! But you already know I love your work !

thanks Irene!

Thanks Lynn again for the beautiful flowers, I love your paintings , also!
Ellen

Thanks Ellen. Here's a painting I did today from Pat's photo. Thanks for permission, Pat, to use your photo. This is a small one and tomorrow I will do a much larger version of this. Can't decide if I like the white or blue background better. Your opinions?

Here's the white one.