Spring

Winter is giving way to Spring.  Last weekend as I was out running weekend errands driving east on a major road near our home, I could see the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains set agains a bright cerulean blue sky.  The previous Friday's rain had cleared the air so that the sunlight hitting the snowcapped mountains was spectacular.  All around town the trees are beginning to bloom.  Spring is coming.  I spotted the first rose of the season on my noon time walk.   This particular rose is one of my seasonal favorites because of its subtle hues of soft orange peach color.  This was another reminder of the upcoming change of season.

The roses shown here are watercolor and color pencil study sketches that I did of the roses in our garden.  I love to study the subtle shapes, patterns and colors of the roses.  As I study and sketch the garden roses, I am reminded of a quote from one of my favorite artists, Georgia O'Keefe, "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."  That is why I like to sketch and draw.  It helps to slow contemporary life down briefly for me so that I do not miss the subtle beauty and strength in nature.

Wishing everyone who reads this a little happiness and beauty as
spring unfolds.