This weekend I spent some time exploring
Water Paper Paint.
It's a charming book written by the artist
Heather Smith Jones.
cover artwork by Heather Smith Jones
I actually came across her blog a while ago and got a sneak peek at the book while it was in the works. I'm always looking for creative ways to play with paint and Water Paper Paint is full of wonderful ideas!
photo by Rachel Saldana for Water Paper Paint
It's written for all creative types, whether your background is mixed-media, textile art, journaling, or papercraft. It's a grown-up book full of inspiration and each exercise is written and beautifully photographed entirely from the artist's perspective.
This botanical by the author is what caught my eye. I love botanicals but I've never tried to paint one. Until now!
artwork by Heather Smith Jones
My garden is full of bulbs that gave quite a show earlier this spring and now have laid down to rest. So I thought I'd give it a try.
photo Lisa Porter
I went to the back of the garden and pulled up an assortment.
photo Lisa Porter
I'll admit that up until now, I had never really thought of bulbs & roots covered in dirt as being all that interesting.
Ahemmmm...Helllloooooo...
photo Lisa Porter
I started photographing them and suddenly Mother Nature had my full attention. Here's one of many examples that I'll choose from to paint.
photo Lisa Porter
In the meantime, If you're the creative type, and I know you are, stop by the blog Heather Smith Jones and say hello to the artist & author of Water Paper Paint.
The other project in the garden this weekend was to create a place near the potting bench to clean up!
photo Lisa Porter
We've had an old galvanized feed bin for years and Gracie has always loved it full of cool water for jumping into on hot summer days. I used the water at the end of the day for cleaning up garden tools & muddy boots.
photo Lisa Porter
Gracie's not so fond of jumping in & out of it anymore and I'm not so fond of bending over and cleaning up anything at the end of the day so using old fieldstone that Collier & I gathered, we built a base to raise it up. We added a spigot & now we have a garden sink!
photo Lisa Porter
photo Lisa Porter
She'll be sure and let you know when she gets a new pool.
photo Lisa Porter
And I'll be sure and let you know how the botanical turns out!
School is out & it's officially summer, painting & blogging time!
I've missed you all,
