yellow chrysanths

- watercolor -

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- waterverf -

leaf / blaar

...a simple watercolour a did a while ago of a leaf from my most favorite shrub in our garden - golden privet. It amazes me everytime when I turn the leaf over how very beautiful it looks from the back - it's definitely a shade of gold...

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...'n eenvoudige waterverf wat ek 'n ruk tevore reeds gedoen het van 'n blaar van my gunsteling struik in ons tuin - "golden privet". Dit verbaas my elke keer as ek 'n blaartjie omdraai hoe pragtig dit onder lyk - defnitief 'n skakering van goud...

reed like shrub // rieterige struik

This reed like shrub has the most beautiful delicate little pink and white flowers. It is currently flowering in my area. Unfortunately I do not know what it is called and am still trying very hard to get hold of the name....:)

watercolor

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Hierdie rietagtige struik het die pragtigste fyn wit en pienk blommetjies. Dit blom tans in my omgewing. Ongelukkig weet ek nie wat die naam is nie en probeer naarstigtelik om dit op te spoor...:)

waterverf

Paintbrush Lily // Poeierkwas

watercolor - these wild flowers/lilies are flowering in the open field/nature around me  right now :))

Wikipedia : Haemanthus coccineus, the Blood Flower or Paintbrush Lily, is a bulbous geophyte in the genus Haemanthus, native to Southern Africa.The generic name Haemanthus is derived from the Greek words haima for blood and anthos for flower; coccineus is the Latin word for red or scarlet. In the Afrikaans language it is known as Bergajuin, Bloedblom, and many other vernacular names

green grapes // groen druiwe

...these grapes are seedless, juicy, delicious and..hmmm:)

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...hierdie druiwe is sonder pitte, sappig, geurig en ...hmmm:)

yellow gazania // geel gazania

...is currently growing beautifully in my flower box. It is native to South Africa and a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is often planted as drought-tolerant ground cover.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazania

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...groei tans pragtig in my blombak. Dit is inheems in Suid Afrika en 'n genus van die blom plante in die familie Asteraceae. Dit word dikwels gebruik as 'n geharde grond bedekker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazania

mirror bush // blinkblaar

...today I am posting a twig watercolor painting I did a while ago when I was practising leaves and twigs...this lovely bush is florishing in my garden - it is the Coprosma repens is a shrub or small tree that is native to New Zaland. Common names include Taupata, Mirror Bush, Looking-glass Bush, New Zealand Laurel and Shiny Leaf

a red rose.../ / 'n rooi roos...

...for Valentine's day ...watercolor

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...vir Valentynsdag ...waterverf

pansies // gesiggies

...watercolour...sweet pansies...:)

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...waterverf...oulike gesiggies...:)

white roses...// wit rose...

...I love "white" roses the most...watercolor :)

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...ek hou die meeste van "wit" rose...waterverf :)

Tagetes - Asteraceae (=Compositae) , Afrikaner

watercolour - I did this watercolor about a year ago and decided to post it today... these were in my garden...we call them "afrikaners" or African marigolds usually referring to cultivars and hybrids of Tagetes erecta, although this species is not native to Africa

wikipedia : <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes"

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waterverf - ek het hierdie waterverf omtrent 'n jaar gelede gedoen en besluit om dit vandag te pos ...hierdie blomme was in my tuin..."afrikaners" of "african marigolds" verwysende na kultivars en hibriede van die Tagetes erectra alhoewel dit nie inheems is in Afrika.

wikipedia : <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes"

red rose // rooi roos

...my first red rose watercolor for 2012...

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...my eerste rooi roos waterverf vir 2012...

salmon colored lily...// salmkleurige lelie...

- watercolor //waterverf -

...the challenge in this for me was to portayed the correct color for this lily...it is a beautiful warm pink - like salmon pink. Scanning this was also not simple, lol, the color came out totally wrong. I had to play around with color adjustments...above's image is the closest I could get it to match the orginal w/c :)

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...die uitdaging met hierdie werk was om die korrekte kleur weer te gee vir hierdie lelie...dit is 'n pragtige warm pienk - soos salm pienk. Om hierdie waterverf te skandeer was ook nie eenvoudig nie, lol, die kleur het heeltemal verkeerd geskandeer. Ek moes met die program se aanpassings rondgespeel het tot ek op hierdie resultaat uitgekom het wat die naaste aan die oorspronklike is :)

Wild olive tree twig // Wilde olyfboom takkie

Wild olive tree twig

This lovely tree is growing beautifully just outside my studio..
- watercolour practise -

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Wilde olyfboom takkie

Hierdie mooi boom groei pragtig net buite my studio...
- waterverf oefening -



a white chrysanth // 'n wit krisant

...a small white flower watercolor practise for today... as I said "baby steps" it's going to be for me now - my sight is definitely improving every day, but it is a very slow process...it is for sure therapeutic to do small projects like this :)

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...'n klein wit blommetjie waterverf oefening vir vandag...soos ek genoem het "baba treëtjies" sal dit nou eers wees vir my - my sig is defnitief elke dag bietjie beter, maar dis 'n baie stadige proses...dis verseker terapeuties om sulke klein projekte te doen :)

leaf practise // blaar oefening

These leaves are from two mirror bushes(one with green leaves only and the other green/yellow leaves) in my garden. I did these practises way in the beginning of my journey to learn more about botanical art and illustrations...

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Hierdie blare is van twee "blinkblaar struike" in my tuin(een met net groen blare en die ander wit/groen blare). Ek het hierdie oefening heel in die begin van my reise om meer te leer van botaniese kuns en illustrasies gedoen...

yellow lily // geel lelie

...watercolour.../...waterverf...

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These lilies are so sunny and happy :)

...I am still trying to get back into my routine with my botanical work...small projects to start with...

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Hierdie lelies is so sonnig en gelukkig :)

...Ek probeer steeds om weer terug te keer na my roetine met my botaniese werke...klein projekte vir eers...

a pink rose // 'n pienk roos

...watercolour.../...waterverf...

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...I hesitated quite a bit before picking up a brush again because I am still recovering from some after effects of meningoencephalitis.  The enjoyment by doing something like this again is really wonderful. :))

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...ek het baie getwyfel in myself voordat ek weer 'n kwas in my hand gesit en begin verf het aangesien ek nog nie heeltemal herstel het van die na effekte van meningoencephalitis nie. Die genot wat ek daaruit geput om weer so iets te doen is wonderlik :))

cherries // kersies

...fun watercolor practise for today - two cherries...:)

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...pret waterverf oefening vir vandag - twee kersies...:)

Leucospermum cordifolium / pincushion / speldekussing

Watercolour - lifesize. I am done at last. These beautiful proteaceae plant is still flowering and in full bloom in my area.

Family: Proteaceae
Common names: Pincushion, Bobbejaanklou, Luisiesboom, Luisiesbos

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/leucospcordifol.htm

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Waterverf - lewensgrootte. Ek is uiteindelik klaar. Hierdie pragtige protea plante/struike blom tans in my area en is baie mooi om te aanskou.

Family: Proteaceae
Common names: Pincushion, Bobbejaanklou, Luisiesboom, Luisiesbos

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/leucospcordifol.htm

lavender

...I did this little painting a few days ago...needed a break between painting the pinchusion flowers. These little flowers are so beautiful and sometimes one doesn't notice them individually :)

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...ek het hierdie waterverfie 'n paar dae terug gedoen.... het afleiding nodig gehad tussen verf van die speldekussing blommetjies. Hierdie klein blommetjies is so mooi en 'n mens bekyk hulle soms net in 'n groep, maar nie individueel nie :)

work in progress /close-up : Leucospermum cordifolium

...I am currently busy painting these yellow pincushion (common name) flowers. It is the first of three flowers. This proteaceae is currently flowering everywhere around me and are strikingly beautiful...

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/leucospcordifol.htm

gazania

...at this moment I am so very busy with other personal stuff and hope to find a new project soon to keep me "sane";).  In the meantime I'll post this image of a gazania flower I did a while ago...

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...op die oomblik is ek so besig met ander persoonlike alledaagse doenighede en hoop ek om so gou moontlik 'n nuwe projek te vind om "gesond van gees" te bly ;) Intussen pos ek die prentjie van 'n gazania blommetjie wat ek 'n tydjie gelede geverf het...

Calla Lilies / arum lily / Zantedeschia aethiopica / Varkoor

... I have finished these calla lilies. It was quite an ejoyable experience and a challenge for me to  paint white flowers. I had to use greys and pastels very carefully to bring forth the three-dimensional image of the flowers without adding in the background or use leaves as a background.  The white paper also acted as the painted shape. I was also very aware of the fact not to overwork these whites flowers - I hope I didn't and lol, I am not sure if it even was enough worked on, but decided to stop at that stage...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia

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...ek is uiteindelike klaar met die lelies. Dit was 'n aangename ervaring en 'n uitdaging om weer wit blomme te verf. Ek het gryse en pastelle baie versigtig gebruik om 'n drie-dimensionele beeld te skep sonder om 'n agtergrond te verf of blare as 'n agtergrond te gebruik. Die wit papier self het die basiese vorm aan die blomme verskaf. Ek was ook baie bewus van die probleem om die wit blomme te oorwerk...ek hoop ek het nie, en lol, ek hoop dis selfs genoeg, maar ek het besluit om daar te stop...

work in progress.... / werk in proses...

These lilies are now growing en flowering so beautifully in my valley. I couldn't resist to paint them before these flowers fade away...untill next year.

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Hierdie lelies groei en blom tans pragtig in my omgewing. Ek kon dit nie weerstaan om hulle te verf voordat die blomme verwelk...tot volgende jaar nie.

rose bud // roosknoppie

...a little rose bud practise for today...

watercolour

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...'n klein roosknoppie waterverf oefening vir vandag...

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nostalgia

Polygala Myrtifolia

Family: Polygalaceae (milkwort family)

Common names: September bush (Eng.); Augustusbossie, blouertjie, langelede (Afr.)

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This lovely bush is currently in full bloom and really very pretty. "Polygala myrtifolia has blooms throughout the year with a peak in spring ( August to October) when the plants flower profusely. Polygala myrtifolia occurs naturally from the Bokkeveld Mountains near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape to Kwazulu-Natal. Along this wide distribution area changing from winter to summer rainfall, it is commonly found growing on dunes, rocky slopes, in forests, along streams, in scrub and open grassland." ( http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/polygalamyrt.htm )

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Hierdie Polygala myrtifolia is tans in volle blom en vertoon pragtig veral gedurende vroee lente m.a.w. Augustus tot Oktober.  Hulle kom natuurlik voor vanaf die Bokkeveld in die Weskaap tot Kwazulu-Natal. Sien asb : http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/polygalamyrt.htm

work in progress...

...watercolor progress on the Polygala myrtiflolia...

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...waterverf in wording van die septemberbos, Polygala myrtiflolia...

Chasmanthe aethiopica bicolor

....watercolor "A common plant along the southwestern and southern coast of South Africa. Chasmanthe aethiopica grows in coastal bush and along the edges of forest patches, mainly in clay soils, from Darling just north of Cape Town, along the coast as far east as Kentani in the Eastern Cape. Its coastal habit means that it rarely experiences extreme climatic conditions in nature and will not withstand temperatures much below freezing."

for more info : <a href="http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/chasmanaeth.htm" rel="nofollow">www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/chasmanaeth.htm</a>

a bud...

...gazania bud / gazania knoppie

mushroom / sampioen

...a simple small practise for today, something with "no" colour....

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...'n oefening van iets klein en eenvoudig vir vandag, iets met "geen" kleur....

Aloe arborescens

...lifesize watercolour. Aloes(different species) are growing and flowering all over the landscape around me recently. Unfortunately the flowers don't last very long...

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...lewensgrootte waterverf. Aalwyne(verskillende soorte) is oral te sien rondom my. Ongelukkig verwelk die blomme taamlik vinning en blom net aan die einde van die winter...

garlic/ knoffel

small watercolor practise

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klein waterverf oefening

Proteaceae

...I am not sure what this specific proteaceae is called, but did came across a quite close description of the P. susannae & P.neriifolia, especially by looking at the leaves and the shape of the flower and centre...not the colour though. Maybe a variant of one of them ...or a variant of Protea neriifolia x susannae "pink ice" or maybe "Frosted Fire" Protea neriifolia hybrid?

http://www.proteaflora.com.au/plant-search/protea"

They are currently blooming in my area :)

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.....ek is nie heeltemal seker wat hierdie protea genoem word nie. Die naaste beskrywing was van die P. susannae & P. neriifolia veral as na die vorm van die blare gekyk word en die middelste gedeelte van die blom(nie die kleur). Dis miskien 'n variant of hibried van die "pink ice" of die "frosted fire" . Hulle het onlangs pragtig geblom in my area :)

http://www.proteaflora.com.au/plant-search/protea

pear / peer

...the purpose with this exercise was to practice smooth veg & fruit surfaces...

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...die doel met hierdie oefening was om gladde vrugte en groente oppervlaktes te oefen...

blue nr2 / blou no2

...same little flower - different angle...

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...dieselfde klein blommetjie - uit 'n ander hoek...

blue / blou

...practising "blue" flowers...

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...oefen "blou" blommetjies...

Srawberry / Aarbei

--- for today : a small watercolour project ----

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--- vir vandag :  'n klein waterverf projek ---

Metrosideros kermadecensis

...another beautiful tree on my daily walking route, which also recently was in full bloom :)

watercolour(A2) and cropped a bit...this took me a couple of weeks(on and off) to finish.

Wikipedia :..."Metrosideros kermadecensis, commonly called the (Kermadec pōhutukawa) is an evergreen tree of the myrtle family which is endemic to the volcanic Kermadec Islands about 900 km north-east of New Zealand" ...  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosideros_kermadecensis"  ...and is beautifully growing down here in SA :)

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...nog 'n pragtige boom wat onlangs mooi in blom was. Dit het my 'n paar weke geneem om te voltooi. A2 grootte. Ongelukkig is die kleur op die foto hierbo nie heeltemal soos die oorspronklike nie, maar ek het dit so na as moontlik probeer kry. Sien asb die Wikipedia hierbo se beskrywing. :)

Gooseberry /appelliefie

- watercolour fruit / waterverf vrug -

Crinum moorei

Today I have added the flowers in the foreground. I still would like to add leaves at a later stage.

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Vandag het ek die blomme in die voorgrond bygevoeg. Ek sal steeds graag blare wil byvoeg op 'n latere stadium.

Crinum moorei

Yesterday I discovered this beautiful lily in my garden. I had to do a quick study because I uprooted the poor thing and I wanted to plant it in a better place. it smells wonderful!

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Gister het ek op hierdie pragtige lelie in my tuin afgekom. Ek moes 'n vinnige studie maak daarvan en het sommer die bol bietjie van nader bekyk. Ek wou die plant in 'n beter plek plant. Dit ruik heerlik!

Podranea / Port St John's creeper

My second attempt towards a more detailed correct illustration of a plant - in this case, a creeper called Port St John's creeper in my area.

I walk pass these beautiful flowers almost daily and they are currently in full bloom and really pretty. I was very lucky to get hold of a twig or two and one with a pod - to me this was quite rare.

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My tweede poging tot 'n meer korrek geillustreerde plant - in hierdie geval die Port St Johns ranker.

Ek loop byna daagliks verby hierdie pragtige blomme wat tans welig groei. Ek was ook baie gelukkig om 'n takkie of twee in die hande te kon kry vir nadere inspeksie en een het sowaar 'n peul gedra - iets wat ek nie baie sien nie.

Sweet Thorn / Soetdoring

This tree was full of fluffy yellow flowers yesterday...unfortunately with the rain, they mostly came down (actually we are very thankfull for the rain:) Luckely I got a twig and a lot of photo's earlier this week. Thank you dear neighbour! (my mom's neighbour)

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Hierdie soetdoring wat ek eers gedink het kom net in die Vrystaat voor, blom alte pragtig hier in my suid-kaapse kusdorpie. Die donsige blommetjies bly egter net vir 'n kort rukkie verruklik mooi en met gister se reen was hulle tydjie hierdie tyd van die jaar nog korter. Gelukkig het ek vroeër die week 'n takkie gekry en vele foto's.

a rose for valentine...

Today I was in the mood to paint a rose...well it is Valentine's Day. I have concentrated on the detail like the texture and veins on the petals...but I am also afraid it's maybe a bit overempasized. The lesson was "how much detail?" and knowing when to stop....;P

a dewdrop // doudruppel

I am going back and forth between these books and don't follow them actually very orderly, but I love them and there are more than enough tips and guidelines...and beautiful examples to learn from. That I love the most. This dewdrop was a fun practice;P The leaf I "pinched" from a lovely shrub nearby...

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Ek werk heen en weer tussen die 3 boeke en volg hulle nie werklik baie sistematies nie. Ek vind hulle egter baie interessant met meer as genoeg riglyne en raad. Daarbenewens is die illustrasies en voorbeelde asemrowend mooi en kan 'n mens baie leer deur net te observeer. Laasgenoemde geniet ek die meeste. Ek het langs my pad huis hierdie pragtige bossie raakgesien en 'n blaartjie gedeps...

a dry leaf // 'n droë blaar

"use shading to set elements in space" (BI course with the Eden project) ...back to basics...I got this leaf early this morning during our morning run with a pencil drawing practice in mind...softer tonal gradation...personally I do not like this method a lot, because I love grain, but I realise grain is a no-no in botanical art and maybe I need to change my watercolor technique a bit too...

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Om skaduwee te gebruik vir ruimtelike plasing was die lesinhoud van die Eden project boek - ek is dus terug na die basiese. Tydens ons oggend draffie het ek hierdie blaar opgetel met 'n oefening in gedagte - sagter skakering van lig na donker. Ek hou nie persoonlik baie van hierdie vee en vryf tegniek nie aangesien ek mal is oor tekstuur. MAAR ek het wel agter gekom dat sulke tekstuur nie goed afgaan met botaniese werk nie en sal dus moet aanpas - verseker my waterverf tegniek ook...

Foreshortening practice

....same flower...another angle

Foreshortening practice

...trying to represent the same flower while it recedes towards me...