Life Is In The Balance

  I have mixed feelings as I start this sixth and final drawing of the series funded by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. This way of seeing/working and the series will continue...as it has since the 1970's. A look at nature and geometry has been a career long fascination.   My photographs as resources and the preliminary drawing of the geometry with a tracing paper text run on the flowers. Yesterday I had a wonderful visit to Narrows Botanical Gardens (actually I go at least 2 or 3 times a week). It was my intention to finalize my plans for this last drawing, ie subject matter. I had European columbine in mind, but when I got there, I was immediately enamored with the trumpet honeysuckle. I can't believe it seemed brand new to me, apparently it was planted beside the willow tree three years ago. The color and the delicate and complex cone shaped flowers reminded me of the honeysuckle of my youth but burst into full glory! Trees from my favorite grove of Chi

  Apple Blossoms and Dandelion, mixed media, 30"x30" This is a celebration of the arrival of spring at Narrows Botanical Garden. Warm days, flowers and the pollinators getting to work.  

  Life is in the Balance_Drawing 5: Apple Blossoms I have been delinquent in keeping the blog updated....not in drawing. (It's too much fun to stop for very long)  Apple Blossoms with dandelion flowers and bees is a tribute to spring. I have been gaga just drifting from one flower or flowering tree to another.  A current obsession is writing haiku. These two are appropriate to express my mood and how it is visualized in this drawing. Still under the spell  from one flower to the next It's finally spring   Gift of renewal Energized the whole world The glory of spring   This drawing is just about finished. Thanks for your interest in my work. Learn more about my artwork to inspire careful observation of the natural world on my website, KristinHarrisDesign.com .  

I needed the break I took the last few weeks. I jumped into this series full steam ahead and needed a rest!  Very happy to have acted on my strategizing of the last few weeks and put pencil to paper today. This spring there have been an abundance of flowering trees in my neighborhood. They inspired me to indulge in a favorite pass time, writing haiku.                Cherry trees in spring                The flowers like falling stars                Bringing me such joy  Narrows Botanical Gardens has a number of blooming apple trees which did not disappoint. There are many flowering plants at the Gardens now but the apple blossoms really captured my attention. They are especially beautiful but maybe it's also in my father's memory I celebrate them now. He was a great fan of apples and apple trees. He nurtured many an apple tree in his days as a gardener. This one's for you Dad. This is the sketchbook drawing that solidified my vision for this work. It may appear rather crude

  The monarchs world is opening up. At the top you can see the milkweed seeds being blown around by the wind. Zinnias bloom in the garden during the summer. The monarchs are frequently visit the zinnias. The stage has been set, my concerns now are the color palette and creating a harmonious balance of the elements that are telling this story. More work to be done. Butterflies always make me think of my brother Paul. When we were children he was the one running around collecting insects. I was more likely looking at larger creatures. I vividly remember his setting up a sheet one evening and using a flashlight to attract luna months. They remain one of my favorites today.   My mission with this work is to engage you and encourage you to look carefully and try to see how these organisms relate to each other (and us!). 

Monarchs and Milkweed, 30"x30", mixed media on paper, 2023  We Love These Guys There is something so inspiring about their story. Over numerous generations they travel from various locations in the US to Mexico, winter over and return. This can be up to 3,000 miles one way. Their ability to navigate this distance had intrigued scientists who have numerous theories. Their caterpillars will only eat milkweed leaves. One of the reasons they are currently on the endangered list. Oh, and they are really beautiful.  Sadly they are plummeting toward extinction.