Ariane’s Art Challenge: Tropics
I’m feeling a little on top of my work load and am so happy to be able to take a day to draw a little piece for our art challenge which Ariane called for this weekend. Thank you so much Ariane. 😀
The challenge is Tropic and I was looking around my home and decided there’s a tropical feel here.
The warm country plants are still inside and some orchids, like this cymbidium, are just about to bloom.
While some orchids, like this phalaenopsis have been blooming for weeks.
I like growing orchids in the house. I put them outside completely ignoring them from May to September and then take them inside and they bloom for me each year.
So you all know about my garage/studio conversion and my quick trips to thrift stores to pick up a thing or two, and, on one trip, I found this huge pot for $7 and instantly had an idea.
I decided to plant up a large tropical planter for the studio, (which has to stay in the house for now).
Here it is.
It’s planted up with a $20 majestic palm from IKEA, and four $10 plants; two peace lilies and two kangaroo ferns. (They all like the high humidity that the palm does)
I love the planter in the living room for now, but am looking forward to having this greenness in the studio.
But wait, since this is an art challenge, I decided to paint a pair of colourful European bee eaters on a 101 yr old Chopin study.
I like these little guys. They sometimes venture into the UK but are such tropical little flowers that they tend to stay further south.
Thank you so much for hosting Ariane. Please pop over to out Rose’s place for more tropical inspiration. I’ll be by to visit everyone as soon as I can. 😀
Susan
Great looking studio space. Love the new greenery you have added. Getting orchids to re-bloom is impressive and the long bloom time is glorious. Your red shiny car glistens like new. Thrift store finds work well on so many levels. Re-purposing items is so satisfying. The tropic art theme inspires warmth, color and light. Lovely inspiration.
Veronica
Thank you Susan. I go thru periods of thrift store hunting for some purpose and then periods of ignoring the thrift. But it tends to be so much fun. I don’t know what I do with those darn orchids…lol. They get unceremoniously tossed outside, under the maple tree on an old baker’s rack on the patio, and get filtered sunlight and are watered with the rest of the garden. Honestly, they seem to love it and come the autumn, they set flower shoots. 😀
Julie@frogpondfarm
Your bee eaters are beautiful .. Do they eat bees? Love those orchids V such lovely colours. Well done with the pot purchase .. 😀
Veronica
Thank you so much Julie. Yes they do! Apparently. I’ve never seen one in real life, although they are summer visitors to the UK. Must try to find one one day. 😀
roberto
Veronica, beautiful post about Tropic. I think… why most of of us think about plants when we have to do something about Tropics?… Perhaps because Rousseau (the painter) used tropical plants in some of his paintings? (is just an idea 🙂 Have a nice sunday!!!!
Ariane Reichardt
Roberto, I have thought about Rousseau, too, and wanted to talk about him. But then I decided to tell about the brave women, the female researchers…
😉
Veronica
I love those brave women to pieces. My most favourite one is Marianne North, who’s gallery at Royal Botanical Garden Kew I could spend days and days in.
Veronica
I think so Roberto, and also the Victorian artists I admire painted plants and strange flowers…probably because they stood still long enough. 😀
Tammie
so fun that you made a tropical planter.
we get bargains and then spent money taking them to the next step. Your planter full of plants, my walnut table that needed lots of money to buy supplies to strip, sand and finish it 😉
your birds are wonderful.
Veronica
I know, I know! The bargains only seem like that for a very short time…lol. But in truth this planter complete cost me less than $100 which would be four bunches of roses from Costco, so in the long run I think will outlast four bouquets of roses. And clean the air. 😀
Ariane Reichardt
Heaven! Veronica, Dear!
Your garage-transformation! What a stubborn will you have, what an outcome!
I love that red, old barn cupboard filled with vintage clay pots… my ever wanna be gardener heart’s melting,
even when you’ll find another solution. And even that pillow with corals *sigh*. So, your huge planter
with tropical plants turns every room into a palm house! Looks great!
So thank you very much, dear Veronica,
for finding time for ‘playing’: Your bee eaters are wonderful! Never saw one in real, but there are some in the
warmer south of Germany (I am in the north), i read, but not now. Now they hibernate in Africa 😉
Love, Ariane. Rose
Veronica
Thank you so much sweetie and thank you for hosting. I’ve never seen a bee eater in the UK either although they are summer residents sometimes. Must try to spot one one day. 😀
Debra She Who Seeks
Your Chopin bee eaters are magnificent!
Veronica
Thank you so much Debra 😀
sarah
Such loveliness!
Veronica
Thank you so much Sarah. 😀
eric
Always inspiring to see your drawings on music paper. Love it. – eric
Veronica
Thank you Eric. I never get tired of working with this paper.
Carole Reid
Tropic greens in your studio will be amazing!
Great bargain hunting and decorating.
Veronica
Thank you Carole. I think so too. The minute I saw that pot I thought how nice it would be to plant up a large tropical garden.
pieterbie
I love those colourful birds on the sheet music. My wife and eldest son are musicians. Bet they would love this too.
Veronica
Aw thank you Peter. I get a lot of musicians buying my paintings because they find a favourite piece of music. 😀
daryledelstein
i am envious of your orchids …. i have successfully killed two without even trying
tinywoolf
good tip on those orchids, i’ll say. i never tried this, they do die on me, poort things (many plants die on me…). so, your green fingers throughout your post do impress me. wholly! good luck with the conversion, you are courageous!! n?