The Herb Garden

This past spring I spent an enjoyable couple months working on a project for Mary from TheWhiteCottageCo.  The design she had envisioned was a pillow with 3 herb plants in a row as well as smaller pillows illustrated with each individual herb.  It was so much fun working on this with her. She was so nice to work with.  They turned out great!  It's so gratifying to see my drawings made into something that people can use and enjoy everyday. (You can see the pillows HERE if you like...as well as many other lovely things Mary  has in her shop.)

Another reason I enjoyed this so much is because herbs are one of my favorite things.  From growing them in the herb garden behind our house~

to preserving them by drying, freezing or in herb vinegars and, of course, using them in tasty recipes.  I have many books I go to for inspiration, with well-worn covers torn and pages stained by ingredients used in the herbal recipes within.  Two of my favorites are The Pleasure of Herbs by Phyllis Shaudys and my favorite from the very beginning, Herbs Through the Seasons at Caprilands by Adelma Simmons. 

So, this all got me thinking.  Why don't I do something a little different and combine my love of art, gardening, cooking and herbs and feature each of the plants I had drawn in the next 3 articles? I am by no means an "expert", I just would like to share a little about my drawing process as well as some info on how I grow, preserve and cook with these wonders of nature that give us so much pleasure. 

I hope you will enjoy! 

 

 

Returning to Unfinished Projects

 

                                    

Pumpkin - colored pencil on Fabriano Artistico h/p watercolor paper

Two years ago during an Autumn trip to the local apple orchard I found this very interesting pumpkin. I loved the bluish-green and pinky-orange skin with its craggy stem. Throw in a few bumps and scratches and you have one pumpkin overflowing with character.  

I did, with good intentions, start drawing, making color notes and taking photos. But, as 'life happened', I had to put this one aside for awhile.

A couple of weeks ago as I was cleaning out the studio, I found him again and thought it was a good time to finish. There are others as well in my files that I will be working on before summer gardens, fields and woods put forth a bounty of inspiration for future works.