Blossoming in Nature

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. 

Gerard De Nerval 

Rain drops

A view of my mid-May garden after the rain... 

Poppies!

My garden step poppies bloomed overnight. And are continuing to bloom before my eyes. Gosh, they make me happy! 

Natures View

What little bit of Nature are you seeing today?  

Here's what I'm seeing: 

So what are YOU seeing? 

Check out my Facebook Page and share a photo. 

www.facebook.com/NaturesWalkStudio

Mid Spring - Works in Progress

A gesso-watercolor abstract painting in progress. Blue flowers... my intent was to create pansies, however that may change as I get into the details. This is with the first layer of color on the leaves. More color will go on the leaves, and then I'll start on the details. That part is always scary... what if I muck it up? :)
It felt good to get back to these paintings, I've been ignoring them for a bit but the muse finally wanted to work on them again. Yay! If I keep the momentum, I'll have several done in the next few days. We'll see. It's hard to be in the studio when the sun is shining!

I did start this painting today, outdoors on the deck. Inspired by the Lewisia we have in pots near the table where we were sitting and finishing our (caffeine free) iced tea.

It doesn't look like much, and I've already decided I should have made it taller (rather than square) as the flower stems are much higher in real life. However, this will be an abstract, so I will take poetic license.

And from the garden this lovely day: 

Red Coral Bells

On another note, a finished piece from last summer is now in my Etsy Shop:

Digital Poppy 5x5 print

Sharing today with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin

How to cure the blahs....

One of the ways that works for me to banish the blahs 

is to go outside and take photos of the garden. 

Or dig in the garden. Or do some weeding. 

Or just be OUTSIDE because it's warm enough to do so.... finally! 
We had sunshine so must take advantage, it can be elusive here. 

 Native Yellow Twig Dogwood blooming along the fence.

Native Bleeding Heart with bee

Wild strawberries! We're going to have a bumper crop this year. 

Poppy  growing on steps (ignore the weeds, I'll get to them soon!)

And since I'm out in the garden, I'm not at my desk...

 so this is the workspace I'll show today. 

The garden bench. :)

P.S. The spray bottle has a mix of ammonia and water which works to, um, dispatch of slugs that are in the veggie garden. The best time to go out is just as it's getting dark as they come out of hiding. ;)

Happy WOYWW everyone! 

Check out what others have on their work desk at Julia's

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

White Lilacs

Green leaves border white.

Spring garden abounds with blooms

Sweet scent on the breeze

Mid-Spring beauties from the garden, these white lilacs are in full bloom and their scent is in the air. The blooms are high enough up (husband likes trimming lower branches) that I used the ladder (with said husband holding it sturdy) to get this photo.

Garden Flowers

Sharing what's new in my shop:

Greeting cards of Garden Flowers from my origial gesso and watercolor paintings. 

Crazy busy and I can't seem to get anything finished... although I guess prepping for SeARTle Art Retreat next weekend is getting something done. :) 

We had a few sunny days this week, and got a bit of work done in the garden. These little violets wander the garden/yard at will, and I love them. 

Happy Friday! 

Our World Our Art

Welcome to Natures Walk Studio! I'm so pleased to participate in Our World, Our Art, a blog event that celebrates CREATIVE PASSION hosted by Lisa at AWhimsicalBohemian.

My name is Helen and I am a mixed media artist and nature photographer from the Pacific Northwest. The goal of my work is to convey the beauty found in the natural world and the human spirit, using uncomplicated topics and interesting textures. With so much of today’s world creating stress, it’s a small contribution to promote peace and restfulness.

I adore anything nature related. I have a special affinity for hearts and love finding them in nature...and I have a knack for seeing them in the most interesting places.

There are so many things in our natural world to admire... birds and butterflies, flowers and trees, forest critters! It's delightful to see as we walk the trails and also from the many visitors in our backyard wildlife habitat. The birds that come to our feeders keep us entertained daily.

Hummingbird at lavender

Besides photographing everything in sight, I do a variety of types mixed media art. I love to create textured abstract landscapes using a variety of materials,... paints, fibers, buttons, lace. 

Autumn Mountain 8x8 

Field of Buttercups 8 x 8 

I also create tiny 3 x 3 inspirational word art canvases... they make me happy! 

One of my current favorite techniques involves gesso and watercolor, which I learned in a class by Carla Sonheim. Carla is a fabulous instructor, by the way, and I recommend her online courses. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to take classes from her in person as well.  Here's a couple of the gesso and watercolor pieces I've created recently:

Abstract Orange Flowers 8x10

Abstract Poppies 4x5 

I am a member of Allied Arts of Whatcom County and participate in member shows and their annual 6 week Holiday Festival. My work is currently on display at Guiseppe's Restaurant on the Bellingham waterfront.  My art is available online at NaturesWalkStudio.etsy.com and Fine Art America. Besides my blog, you can keep up with what I'm doing at Facebook at NaturesWalkStudio. 

As part of OWOA, I'm hosting a giveaway! Yay for giveaways! 
You have a change to win a set of Flower Garden Greeting cards with images from my gesso and watercolor paintings! You'll receive two of each design. 

The giveaway is open to ALL ACTIVE bloggers worldwide.  Please leave a comment with a way for me to contact you should you win. 
I will announce the winner at 5:00 pm Pacific Time on April 18th here on my blog, on Facebook and by email. You will have 3 days to respond with mailing address. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!  I'll be by to visit you as well! 

HuMp DaY Haiku - Foxglove by the fence

Spires of bright purple

Sturdy, tall, pollen laden

Honey bees delight

I love this time of year in the garden. Foxglove and native Columbine are prolific and we sometimes even get nice weather too.  It's relaxing watching the bees busy gathering pollen. They probably wonder what that human is doing following them about the garden. :)

I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written?  

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. Consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello.