Life Is In The Balance

                            Honeysuckle and Redwood (working title), 30"x30" mixed media   I went back up to Narrows Botanical Gardens yesterday to look at the honeysuckle again. I wanted information about the leaf structure that was not clear in the photos I had taken earlier. In the brief time since the honeysuckle had grabbed my attention, the flowers had faded and it was on its way out. Wow, I never would have noticed them now. It is all about timing. Really enjoying playing with these colors and the exuberant nature of this image or rather this plant. I do like that word, for me it does express audibly what it means. 

  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 .