Thursday, August 09, 2007

Love in a Mist


Watercolour 21x27cm

I've spent the last few days sketching the various stages of the life of Love in a Mist (Nigella damascena) - the pods from life and the flower from a photograph I took when I first discovered this amazing creature in Jean's garden. I'd never seen one before. So I think this is the first in a series that will hopefully culminate in a large painting.

Since I now have dozens of pods rattling with seed I'm dreaming of a wonderful show in our own garden next summer.

26 comments:

brian nelson said...

I have never seen one either. Your watercolour is amazing! I love the textures! Great job!

Claudia said...

Robyn, this is p e r f e c t! You did a wonderful job!The colours are so well chosen...

mARTa said...

I just love your watercolours! This is such an interesting seed pod and I love the name. Will look forward to seeing more!

bettyfromtexas said...

Wow! I have seen the flowers before but not the seed pod. Your pod is prettier than the flowers!

Lin said...

MASTERFUL!!! SO SO WELL DONE - BEAUTIFUL TEXTURES AND LINE!! BRAVA!

Joan said...

This is beautiful!! Excellent colors and textures. How big or small is the actual pod? I've never seen anything that looks like this before.

Kerstin Klein said...

wow. beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Really gorgeous. You do have a talent for botanicals, for sure.

Laureline said...

So ethereal, Robyn, and so beautifully drawn!
I look forward to seeing your paintings of this.

Making A Mark said...

Lovely Robyn - you just get better and better!

Karen Cole said...

What a gorgeous simple piece. The little stems are magical, Robyn.

juj said...

oooo - I've never seen one of these either and I can't wait to see more. Andrea Joseph talked about drawing something from each of it's 360* - I think this would make a fabulous canidate for such a project. Not that I'm sugesting you do that - just that it's so facinating I can imagine you could spend a lot of time with it and never discover all of its mysteries. Great sketch Robyn - thanks so much for sharing.

vivien said...

this is lovely!


and I'm so glad you loved the book - it is fantastic isn't it :)

Joan Y said...

Wow wow wow wow wow! Being a botanist, I'm fascinated with the pod. Being a creator of art, I'm fascinated with your interpretation of it. Perfectly rendered. Love it!!

Robyn Sinclair said...

So many lovely comments here, I'm glowing with pleasure. Thank you all so very much!

Joan - The biggest pods are about 5cm long and extremely delicate.

Judi - Thanks. I am already sketching this pod from every angle. From the top it is a perfect geometric mandala. It may become an obsession ;) I'm just discovering the flower is much more difficult!

Vivien - You were right. I adore the Shirley Trevena book. Now I wish I'd ordered her first one as well.

Joan Y - To have such a gorgeous comment from a botanist has really made my week! Thank you.

mrana said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! So delicately done too, incredible.

Kerstin Klein said...

@Robyn: Thanks for your comment on my blog. Time is not the problem. I can wait. I´ve had a few potrait exchanges where the goal wasn´t to be as realistic as possible, but to have a fun theme: eg. make a punk out of me. ;)

Robyn Sinclair said...

Mrana - Thank you, that is lovely of you. I'm such a fan of your stunning art.

Kerstin - Okay, I'm game! I'll see if I can find a decent photo for you. Don't hold your breath ;)

Anita Davies said...

Amazing drawing!!!
I too love these little flowers and planted mine from seed just two years ago, I now have hundreds of them that have self-seeded and blown around. Such a pretty, delicate and interesting flower.

Felicity Grace said...

There is so much I love about this, it's fabulous!

I have the other Shirley Trevena book and I have to get this too - her work is amazing isn't it?!

Dermott said...

Mmmm. I think I had one of those things stuck in my paw the other day.

Dermott said...

Mmmm. I had one of those stuck in my paw the other day.

pedalpower said...

Beautiful! Such delicate colors.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Anita - Thank you. I can imagine these flowers on your lovely land.

Felicity - I'm so pleased you like this:)
Yes, I'm hoping to get the Shirley Trevena book you have too. I'm working on something inspired by her second book at the moment.

Pedalpower - Thank you too.

Veggie Gnome said...

I absolutely love your drawings, Robyn! The nigella pod is fantastic! I'd love to see what you'd do with a Cape Gooseberry fruit stuck in a lantern that has been on the ground for a while. I've just taken heaps of pictures of some of mine and immediately thought of you. As I'm not painting at all, only taking pictures, I can't imagine how difficult it would be. But I know one thing - you'd do an absolutely superb job! Ask your other half to grow them for you, so that you have some models. :)
Psst... I can send seeds if he needs some. LOL

Robyn Sinclair said...

Ms Gnome - what a lovely surprise to have you drop in. I had a look at your marvelous gooseberry photos. You are right, I'd love to paint them. HWEM would love some seed please! What a treat your gardening/cooking blog is. I read it from beginning to end.

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