Abundance of Beauty

It is the year of the tulip!

At least it is in my house...

On the evening of my birthday I received a beautiful bouquet of cut tulips. 

They are of the softest lavender - so feminine and graceful!!

 I've never enjoyed such an abundance of beauty and inspiration - all in one week!!

Beyond the tulips I'm enjoying, my parents sent me a basket overflowing with Spring flowers!

There are so many beautiful blooms that I couldn't even begin to sketch them, let alone paint them!

As I finish my tidying and my bible reading during the day I find myself just sitting and gazing at them,

enjoying their colours and textures - a little time to recharge and get inspired! Thanks Mom & Dad!!

Guess what?!

Today is my 2 year Blog-versary!!

It's interesting to go back over the last two years and see the work I've accomplished

and the fun pieces I've developed!  I hope to do more painting than I have in the past year.

I have rather large commission pieces still in the works, 

hoping to have them completed by the end of June, God willing.

I have some fun paintings I'm enjoying now too, I hope to post them soon!

Also, I'm developing some stories and characters for a couple of picture book ideas 

I want to follow through on and there's no time like the present!

Speaking of the present, here is my painting of the tulip bouquet 

I received as a present on my birthday:

"Birthday Bouquet of Tulips"

(watercolour, 9" x 12")

Wishing you all a wonderful year!! Thank you for your encouraging words and your nice comments!

I feel very blessed to be able to draw and paint pictures that inspire felicity in others, as well as myself!!

♥ Cath-

 

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere!!

I received another beautiful pot of tulips, this time for my birthday!

Again, they were just in bud when I received them and even this morning 

they looked like they may take another day to fully open, but when I came home this 

afternoon they were celebrating the Spring warmth and sunshine as much I had been!!

Fully open and boasting the prettiest blush of pink, almost a coral! Simply Gorgeous!!

 

I only had half an hour before I had to go for school pick-up 

but I just couldn't resist capturing these tulips with my pencil and paint!

 "Tulips From Patt"

(watercolour, approx, 9" x 10")

I couldn't think of a happier way to spend some free time on my birthday!!

Happy flowers, happy thoughts - preserved for always!!

♥ Cath-

The Gift of Friendship

I received a beautiful gift this past week...  

Potted tulips - a sure sign of Spring! 

After the large amounts of snow we received this Winter, 

any sign of Spring is a very welcome one!  

I sat the tulips on my table by a sunny window 

and watched as the buds swelled and blushed... 

just two days later they were fully unfurled and gleaming!

   

When I first saw them, looking so striking, the perfect shade of red set atop the fresh green of the stalks and those lovely curving leaves - Oh, I just wanted to sit down with my pencil and paints and have at it!!

But it was Sunday morning, time to sit and paint would have to wait!

Needless to say, I was so looking forward to today!! 

I had nothing on my calendar, which meant time for painting! 

But as I'm teaching myself to keep our house more organized 

I knew that tidying needed to come first.

As I hurriedly worked around the house, I would often snatch a glance at the tulips 

basking in the soft sunlight that was streaming through the window... 

"Just a few more minutes of housekeeping and I will be able 

to sit for awhile with my paints and brushes... just a few more minutes."

 

"Tulips"

 (watercolour, approx 9"x 9")

The anticipation that grew with each glance at these beautiful flowers was simply inspiring!

I'm feeling very blessed for having received them and for having the time and ability to capture them!

♥ Cath-

Tulips at John & Lisa's

"Tulips at John & Lisa's"

Watercolour

(Arches, 9x12")

    Sometimes you never know where your next inspiration will come from but when you eyes fall upon it and you know you want nothing more than to sit and paint the view - you'll know you've been struck by it!

    Tulips have the 'perfect' green stems and leaves - that particular shade of green gets me every time - I can't help myself from falling for it!  Pair that with a beautiful pink or red on the petals and I'm a goner - "Get me some paints and a brush - STAT!! 

   

    Hoping you have a inspiring day too!

    ♥ Cath-

    P.S. I'm continuing work on my second Springtime Joys painting and it's coming along nicely.  I worked on it most of yesterday and again this morning, that is until I visited John & Lisa's and well, you know the rest of the story! : )