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Pollinators, Tammie’s drawing challenge

I was really excited when I got Tammie’s email saying she’s called a drawing challenge. And, how perfect for spring! πŸ˜€ Thank you so much sweetie, I love the DCs.

It’s been a while since I mucked about with my oils, and, since the tulips are blooming in the garden, I decided to paint one.

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But the tulips blooming right now are early, single hybrids, and my favourite, and the most fun to paint, are parrot tulips…you know, the ones with the frilly, multicoloured petals which twist and turn in impossible ways. And, since my parrots are still in tight bud, I got out my photos of last year’s garden parrots and used those as reference.

Painting with oils, at least the way I do it, takes a couple/three/four days per painting, (there’s sort of a fine line of drying time that you get to know when you paint with oils for a while), because the oils end up being too wet and slippery after the first layer, and need a day or two to dry a little so a second layer blends in without taking off the first layer or blending everything into mud.

So I chose a canvas, and painted a first layer of oils on Tuesday.

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And then Wednesday, my painting was still too wet and so I painted a second canvas…oh yes!

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Yesterday and today I overpainted a second layer, blended it into both the paintings and refined them to where I like them.

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And there we are, two parrot tulips in full open glory, spreading out their stamens and black pollen, inviting all the pollinators in. (They look rather tarty up there with Frida, don’t they? Like wild girls in flamenco skirts…the big flirts)

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Come fly over to Tammie’s for some more lovely pollen action. πŸ˜€

Comments: 30

  • Rosemarie

    March 27, 2015
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    Beautiful – so full of movement/energy.

  • Jo

    March 27, 2015
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    Interesting – when I saw the first pictures I thought that it would go well with Frida.

  • March 28, 2015
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    just gorgeous with the black background………

  • March 28, 2015
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    They’re beautiful and in full glory! Frida’s choice!

  • Pondside

    March 28, 2015
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    First of all – I am so glad that you haven’t gone completely over to google+ as that would mean I couldn’t comment – and I do so want to comment on this post. I love the thought of your gorgeous tulips as swirly flamenco skirts on either side Frida! Second, I am in awe of a gift that lets you say ‘I’m going to paint a tulip’ and then, after some work and some more work, results in such a voluptuous image. Great way to start a Saturday morning on the prairie!

  • Patty/NS

    March 28, 2015
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    Gorgeous tulip paintings. You have such artistic flair and talent. Bright, vibrant, bold – love them both.

  • March 28, 2015
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    these turned out really well. I like the free-flowing feel of the petals. they remind of georgia o’keefee’s work.

    hope you have a lovely day.

  • debrashewhoseeks

    March 28, 2015
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    Lovely!

  • March 28, 2015
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    tarty and wonderful indeed
    so beautiful and rich with color
    love how you were inspired!
    thank you for joining in.

  • March 28, 2015
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    Oh, wow! Such bright colour! If I were a butterfly I would land on this at once! πŸ˜‰

  • March 28, 2015
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    Flirty! Perfect … Oh you are so very clever! I just love your work πŸ˜€

  • March 28, 2015
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    I’m enthused by your fiery tulips! great!!
    πŸ™‚ mano

  • March 29, 2015
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    if i was a bee i would land on your tulips, they are so inviting and alive.
    they look great with Frida in the middle, her kind of energy,x

  • March 29, 2015
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    oh yes, the big flirts, but don’t they look stunning, though? clearly not at that point yet, moi, but that doesn’t matter and take away from loving what i see you do…

    you made a very true point indeed, thank you for your lengthy comment, i take it so to heart. i realize there’s a way i’m walking with these characters, nonna and the lay out of things; already i want to change alot to my this week’s contribution, and i thought i had it all sussed. but never mind. live and learn. live, draw and learn. thxs.
    n?

  • March 29, 2015
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    Beautiful tulips, I love both the colors and such a movement in them!

  • daryledelstein

    March 30, 2015
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    so very georgia o’keefe ..

  • March 31, 2015
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    Hello Veronica, I’m late this time because of the fair on sunday, but now… your paintings are so vibrant and if I would be a pollinator I would straight go for it and don’t leave your wonderful tulips anymore!
    big hugs
    barbara bee

  • March 31, 2015
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    wauw….
    beautiful red tulips
    (i am in with you, love the parrot ones the best)
    but boy can you paint!
    it has been soooo long since i painted with oil paint
    must be at art school…. so…..
    your paintings makes me want to give it a try again
    i loved the smell and substance back then

    thank you
    and also for hosting next week
    (no, this weekend ;^))

    xx

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