Flowers: Santa Fe, New Mexico

A quick trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico gave me renewed appreciation for the best of friends and the expansive beauty of this high desert arena.  All over the quaint town, flowers were bountiful and reminiscent of Georgia O'Keeffe paintings.  She found her subject here and painted large enough to not be ignored.  There is a museum in Santa Fe named for her, and it was one of our first stops.
The friends I refer to have been a constant in my life for the past twenty years.  We gather each year by taking a sojourn to a new place or an old haunt.  Santa Fe is a new place and we had several days of exploring this historical city.  Over the next weeks I will share a few of the photos.  Maybe you will see something new and want to take a trip there, too! 


 "Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time." Georgia O'Keeffe

Flowers are miracles in themselves.

Clematis

Hollyhocks

Texture, color, depth, expansion, blend...all this is true of a flower.

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the  moment.  I want to give that world to someone else.  Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.  I want them to see it whether they want to or not." G. O'Keeffe

Jimson Weed

Taking a break....

......for just a bit.  There is much to do to catch up around the farm and garden.  A baby is due to come and a quick trip to take.

Several weddings are on the horizon and there is much to accomplish. 

It won't be a long before I'm back. 

Happy days to all!

Flower tidbit

Yesterday a black Iris bloom fell into the vase that was holding it.  Almost immediately the water turned a rapturous purple!  In the morning the water was clear again.  Oxidation took place.

I continue to be amazed at things like this!  In watercolor class we were talking about how watercolor got started.  It was from just this sort of discovery and on it went.  I wonder if you have ever tried to paint with natural pigments? It would be a good exercise to experiment with berries, flowers, clay, mineral and other plant material in painting.  What makes the pigment permanent?  I am off to learn something! 

On the porch and down the driveway

Two different landscapes are taking place on our farm.  One on the porch where the flowers are flourishing......

and...

...... another down the driveway where the rain is boorish! 

It is the weekend..starting now!  Have a good one!

Wildings

A most interesting book has come my way: Wildings, The Secret Garden of Eileen Soper by Duff Hart-Davis.  The book is not only the story of the Soper garden, but it also includes Eileen Soper's life as a wildlife artist.  Eileen lived 81 years in the house her father built for the Soper family.  She never married, and lived with her older sister until she died in 1990.    Eileen Soper was considered to be a child protege in the art of etching.  Her father taught her everything she knew about art and he kept Eileen close by his side while she learned.  Her etchings and paintings were sold all over the world and supported her quite well.   I should say, could have supported her well if she would have allowed herself to use the money.  She became a recluse and lived a very closed life. The house was overtaken by the garden and the wild animals that were encouraged to visit without fear of being chased out. After her death and after the house was cleaned out, it was reported that countless pieces of Soper art was recovered.  Much of it had been mouse eaten and bird soiled.  It was still valuable and sold for fasts amounts of money.  This was an intriguing book to me because of the artists lifestyle and ample talent.