Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Bean Stalker


In the case of botanical art, drawing from life often sadly results in death. In order to sketch these Broad Bean blossoms I had to cut the top off a plant. It is still sitting in water on my desk. I feel bad about it, thinking of all those little beans that won't happen now. I think I'm spending too much time in the studio!

This watercolour sketch was at the request of HWEM. He cast a cursory glance at the rose I painted and said: 'Why don't you paint the Broad Beans. They've got flowers'. And very pretty little flowers I discovered.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

On the other hand, the bean is now immortalized in this lovely painting. True, you can't eat it, but then one can't live by bread alone!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Thanks, Dave. Whoever said that: 'can't live by bread alone' was obviously waiting for their wine glass to be filled :)

Stacy said...

Robyn, a lovely painting of the bean plant! Although the rose was beautiful too. But I suppose it is important to keep HWEM happy so he continues to grow great references for you. :D

By the way, I saw your tag and appreciate the traffic it pushed my way. I am working on a response around my motherly chores. :)

kane said...

Your drawings are quite stunning. Quite an output of them too.

Lin said...

LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY!!! I think the white just pops on this ecru paper!! GORGEOUS!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Stacy - Thank you. I look forward to your revelations!

Tommy - I don't often get 'star struck' but it's the only way I can describe my delight at you visiting and commenting on my sketches! Thanks.

Lin - Thank you too. I like the effect of the white too. Much hard to paint white flowers on white paper.

juj said...

This is a charming painting, but I am especially intrigued by the paper. May I ask what kind of sketch book you are using? I love the way the natural page makes those colors pop. The leaves look positively three dimensional.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Judi - Thanks. It's a Fabriano Artist's Journal 4.75" x 6.5" and about 1" thick. It has multicoloured pages. Being anal, of course I am forcing myself to work through each colour. Only four more pages of this buff colour and I'm into gray. I'm looking forward to the dark red and forest green pages when I'll probably have to start working in white pen.

Joan said...

These look like such dainty little flowers. I would hesitate to cut them off too. Because I live in an apartment, I don't have a garden of my own. So I planted begonia bulbs in pots on my patio. They're just starting to get tiny leaves poking out from the soil. I'm anxious to see them when they flower. Ciao!

E-J said...

You have some lovely and varied work on your blog, Robyn.

I'd say you did the beans a favour by immortalising them in this way - not to mention, increasing my (admittedly very limited) knowledge of the broad bean. I had no idea that they blossomed!

Robyn Sinclair said...

e-j - Thank you. The broad beans are now ready for picking - I can't believe how quick they've been. I had better sketch one before they are all eaten.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Joan - TY - I'm looking forward to you painting those begonias.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...