It feels like a long time since I've painted flowers. The ones depicted above are actually not flowers, but rather a wetland plant called Lysichiton camtschatcensis (Asian Skunk Cabbage). I try to paint them every spring, and they often feature in my Easter etegami. These beautiful swamp plants bring gladness to my heart because they are one of the first to come up through the snow towards the end of northern Japan's long, long winters. The words are a quote from the American writer/philosopher Henry David Thoreau, a great lover of swamps.
The second etegami was inspired by a photograph taken by my friend Gerry. The words are my own (and were probably influenced by a half-hearted attempt to lose weight).
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Your works are always dancing cheerfully.
ReplyDeleteI love your hand-writing, too.
Spring is getting closer to Hokkaido?
I started to turn on an air-conditioner yesterday. I miss cool weather!
Beautiful work, light and fresh ... isn't it a pity they're called 'skunk cabbage' when they're so pretty?
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Thoreau was fond of swamps! We had a tourist attraction called Dismal Swamp for a while near my home. How could anyone resist!
Both illustrations are simply elegant, Debbie. I especially love learning about the skunk cabbage. Thoreau is one of my favorites. You know we were having a discussion about the dearth of literary talent among modern day novelists and writers. Everybody now considers themselves writers, they can self publish badly written books.
ReplyDeleteI wish you had a book of your etegami paintings. That would be a lovely dessert!
I love these, and agree with Ces Adorio, a book of your work would be great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love those touches of blue around the skunk cabbage. Surely those are too pretty to be called skunk cabbage! Great magnolias too, and I love the dessert comment!
ReplyDeleteHaha, my first thought when I read the second was ooh, that works for me. A better dessert anyway, gazing at nature! Both are lovely Debbie!
ReplyDeleteHello Debbie, I am so glad to have been lead here by way of carol's blog.. I greatly admire the manner in which you interpret your Art.. So very lovely... I look forward to future posts.
ReplyDeleteCan't you eat chocolate while looking at magnolia blossoms? Hm... maybe this says something about the flaws in my diet plans? Lovely paintings!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these pictures are lovely. Magnolia blossoms could be the whole meal;they are so delicate and beautiful. Isn't it odd to name something so pretty "Skunk Cabbage"?
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful flower paintings and I like the gazing at magnolia's for dessert. Yum!
ReplyDeleteNice work Debbie! Lovely!
ReplyDeletetwo beauties! I remember wading in little swamp areas as a kid and being surrounded by skunk cabbage. You've evoked a fond memory :)
ReplyDeleteSaw some of these with bright yellow leaves at the edge of the mowed area in our local park, a respectful path of trodden mud showed many others had stepped aside to inspect and enjoy. Glad to know what they are. Cheery reminder of a walk in the rain with a friend. Much enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteThere's such a softness to these, despite the black lines...beautiful!
ReplyDeletesuch a delightful style, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLovely magnolia blooms - and it looks really good on Tshirt. I had a look at zazzle - they have buttons too. Are their products ok (better than cafepress?!)...
ReplyDelete@Evelyn, the T-shirts I've ordered from Zazzle have been very good quality. BUT IF you order the Ladies Baby Doll style, they suggest you get one or two sizes larger than usual because the sizes run small.
DeleteI can't believe that you wrote this..so lovely and inspirational (I can relate to half-hearted weight loss attempts!)
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