Artwork in Progress

Hi everyone - Happy  Friday!

I thought today would be a good day to show you something that I have been working on. It's a watercolor-in-progress of the Old Spanish Mission located in the swamp at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Here's the sneak peek:

If you have been to Cypress Gardens, you've seen the ruins while taking the flat bottom boat tour. Others may remember it from a scene in the movie, The Patriot. It has an eerie quality about it that I love, as most ruins do.

It's been a very long time since I've done a watercolor. I find it very challenging - probably the most challenging out of all the paint mediums. Why? Well, with watercolors, you really can't step back and make changes. So with that in mind, it takes me forever to build the intensity of shadows to my liking.

Subject matter can be quite challenging too. I enjoyed creating the landscape in this watercolor, but found the built environment quite daunting to paint. I'd much rather draw architecture; I feel so disconnected from it when using a brush! The fact that this is an architectural ruin adds to the challenge. I believe the human eye has the ability to auto correct when something slips away from being symmetrical or askew. That has made this subject very difficult to paint. I think the next time I paint ruins, I will lean more towards an Impressionistic style vs. a realistic style.

Either way, I've enjoyed the challenge of this painting and can't wait to get it out there. It needs some work on the shadows and textures - still a little flat. I'll post it again when it is completed and let you know where you can get your own print.

Have a great weekend!

Here's to a new week!

Happy Monday, although this is coming to you a little late! Our Japanese Maple is on fire right now. It was a gorgeous scene this evening, with the blue sky backdrop. Feel free to make it your monitor background, if it helps to get you through another pollen-filled week, spent indoors. I know it makes me smile. Hope it does the same for you! Have a great week.

Friday Inspiration and Advice

Anemone planted en masse. When groundcovers are planted on a large scale, such as these, it becomes such a beautiful, wonderful surprise, and spectacle when they are in bloom. This is a great way to draw attention to a special place in the landscape. Choose a groundcover in which the growth habit is of a spreading nature. Over time, your maintenance will decrease. This is a great solution if you are looking to reduce turf grass while adding color and texture. Photo credit: Garden Design Magazine

This bamboo rail is a simple, effective solution for holding back papyrus plantings. It's minimalist style doesn't compete with the other furnishings, yet maintains an elegance that pairs nicely with the color palette and plantings. Usually papyrus can get very large; this railing will give it the support it needs as it grows taller. Papyrus makes a great privacy screen; its similar to bamboo in texture, yet unlike bamboo, it will not overwhelm the space, keeping the feeling more on a residential scale. Photo credit: Garden Design Magazine

This curved concrete wall has a lot of good things going on. Firstly, it's concrete - durable, moldable and relatively inexpensive. Here, it is serving several functions. It's providing double-sided, shaded seating around a water feature. I am assumming that the landscape off to the right of the image is a picturesque view, making this an ideal sitting spot. The wall is also serving as an edge holding back the wilder plantings from the more manicured hardscape. Concrete is a great material. It can be stained, rubbed, stone and shell aggregates can be added for texture or color. When constructed properly, concrete can be as luxurious as natural stone. Photo credit: Garden Design Magazine.

Spring has arrived at our house!

The Inaugural Post

This is the first post for Artful I Design Studio. I am so excited to have a place online to promote my business, explore new ideas, and offer help with landscape design dilemmas. I have so much to share, as my family and I are smack dab in the middle of our very own home and landscape renovation! My goal for this year, in addition to all the renovations, is to establish my own home studio and/or storefront for the business. It should be interesting - I'll try not to leave anything out!