Just Folks. Forsythia!
Just Folks is an original Hummingbird series. Follow Tina Folks through the layered labyrinth of everyday living with her whimsical colored sketches and collages, and insightful commentary.
In the springtime, one of the earliest blooming shrubs are forsythias. We can’t miss them! They crest our woodland edges, our highways; our neighbor’s yard, and empty lots. With all the troubling news and chaos going on around us right now, it’s no wonder that I felt drawn to paint the bright golden yellows that naturally inspire joy and renewed hope. And it’s helping! I find that I’m particularly energized by spring this year.
With a lot of enthusiasm this week, I started painting loosely… laying down pale yellow brush strokes at first while trying to capture the burst of chaotic blooms with some definition. The branch textures with tiny green leaves were drawn in next. While the paint was still wet, I dropped in some darker yellows to mingle around. It was tricky business. I’ve never painted forsythia blooms before but happily I continued making attempts to succeed. Meanwhile the branches I was working from for several days now, had begun to wilt past their prime.
So, during the week, I took my pruners with me on the way to work. While driving in between several estimates, I had my eye peeled for some "wild" bushes to snip some fresh sprigs in places where they wouldn’t be missed. When I got home I continued to paint..... I just may be on a roll here with florals…stay tuned!
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