The whole time I was coloring this I had the old Lucky Charms cereal commercial stuck in my head -- pink hearts, orange stars, yellow moons, and green clovers. Now, there is none of that in this painting, other than the green clover. Nevertheless, I couldn't get it out of my head. I even Googled the commercials while I was looking up varieties of clover and pansies. I tell you, this craft can take you all over the place.
So... this is my watercolor results with Gansai Tambi paints:
And check out Marcella's graphic:
Wow! I always appreciate Marcella's release notes, too, because I wasn't sure about the littlest flowers. She states they're Forget-Me-Nots, and it seems so obvious now, but I honestly was stumped. Gosh, imagine all the beautiful ways you can color this!
"The third installment of our Café au Lait bowl bouquets overflows with spring favorites. Four-leaf Clovers and their pom-pom-like flowers, Pansies in a variety of sizes and patterns, and sprigs of Forget-Me-Nots make for a rich look. Color your clovers in shades of green for St. Patrick's Day, or go for the more unique dark purples and pinks with contrasting stripes. The symbolism of the botanicals in this bouquet convey good luck, love and remembrance."
There are two versions in the set -- no line and black line. I printed the no-line version with no fiddling around in Photoshop; just printed the way it comes. Sized to fit on a 5" square card with designer paper border. I added a strip of gold trim and some gold paint splatters to finish.
Up close you can see all the good stuff, plus all the imperfections. The nice thing about watercolor is that you can get by with a few imperfections. Call it "loose" and "artist's interpretation". I don't want to minimize the tender loving care that went into my painting, though. It took time and layering and touching up. Three different sit downs because we've been so busy lately and I didn't want to rush it. Watercolor makes me slow down and relax. I can feel the hush and calm wash over me.
Lastly, please do stop over to the Power Poppy Blog where Marcella has posted all about her new release. She'll link you up with the other Instant Gardeners who are sharing Clover and Pansies today. You won't want to miss a thing, trust me.
Hugs and love and happy day to all!
36 comments:
LOVE this beauty! You should frame it Leslie!
Gorgeous Leslie!! This brings back some good memories as my Mom loved pansies...my sister and I have split all her beautiful pansy things she had...and I love forget-me-nots though I have the hardest time growing them and my sister had 100's of them!! You have colored these so beautifully and the shamrocks added make the perfect stamp...she certainly is talented with her stamps isn't she and your certainly do them justice with your creativity!!
These could not look more real, Leslie! Guess your floral arrangement will be the extent of my pansies enjoyment this year. It's been way too hot for them to grow this winter. While the clover and flowers are beautiful in your scene, it is the "muted" background flowers that really draw my attention. Now sure what the name of the flowers are, but the little pink petal "balls" are shaded so amazingly! There is green inside each of those petals. Your attention to color details and highlights is always heart stopping! Wishing you a great week-end. hugs, de
OMG!! What a perfect way to end the week - with my favorite flower! Your coloring is amazing as usual. This stamp is so detailed. I feel like the vase is sitting on my table! I'm on my way to the hospital for some surgery and this was just perfect for me today! Remember - pansies are for thoughts and I'm sending thoughts your way today!
Oh my, Leslie, this is GORGEOUS and so exquisitely done! Yes, I can see that this took three sessions to complete this one. I love every sweet and beautiful element you've colored, and especially love the softness and beautiful finished card. I agree that it really helps to have Marcella's guidance as to what some of these botanicals are. I giggled when I read about the old Lucky Charms cereal ads. We never know what delights from our past will come along. Truly, I think I need to try my hand at watercoloring again. I sure could use the calm and relaxation. Definitely worth every minute you put into this card, and thank you for inspiring me. You are so amazing, my friend! Hugs and love! xoxo
Gorgeous coloring on that pretty design. I love those pansies.
pretty card and lovely coloring.Have a great day
One word --- GORGEOUS! You are so good with these no line images ... the colors are PERFECT and simply beautiful! LOVE IT! LOL ... now I have that silly song in my head and can envision the bunny LOL Thanks!I hope they won't be able to see that in my brain when I go for my MRI shortly! LOL Won't they be surprised! BWAH!!
This needs to be framed, Leslie. I can't believe it is water colored. Such control an blending. Just amazing and gorgeous.
Oh Leslie, Pansies are my favorite little flowers and you colored them beautifully. Lovely and delicate and paired with the four leaf clovers and Forget-Me-Nots make an absolutely gorgeous bouquet, it's totally worth every minute you sat down to colored it so perfectly.
These little flowers are one of the first signs that Spring has arrived and I can't wait.
I might have to break my resolution and get this digi, it's beautiful.
Thank you for sharing my friend.
XO
Maria.
Another WOW card, Leslie! You are absolutely the queen of flowers!! Nobody can touch your coloring skills! Awesome!!
Oh my, this one has me gasping, Leslie, and remembering the sweet blue forget-me-nots in my Mother's beautiful garden. As I admire your work, I can feel the hush and calm you described, and be in awe of your amazing skill with water colors. Everything about this card whispers and shouts beauty!
Dreamy is right Leslie! This is gorgeous! Right down to the little touches of gold, and the delicate touches on your tiny elements. What do you think of the Gansai Tambi? I’m enjoying them :) Watercolor reminds me again to slow down, so it’s so good to be doing it again. Happy Friday lady!
Stunningly gorgeous - is that such a thing? Well I say it should be if it's not! Leslie, I was surprised when I took a peek at my Feedly posts this morning at work amd the first card that popped up was yours! This is breathtaking! I can see why this took you 3 sit downs to finish this. Your colours were well picked, your painting is exceptional. You do such wonderful no line colouring especially with paints - wow! Love the splashes of gold and that bit of gold trim up the side! Okay I'm off to buy this digi! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs,
Such a soft and delicate looking card! Your watercoloring is just stunning, wow!
This is such a beautiful painting! The colors are so real and so well-done. This is the kind of image that I would never take on. The variety of colors and shapes are painted so well...it's gorgeous!
WOW that is one gorgeous image and such fabulous water colouring!!!
Carol x
makes me want to pop my hand inside the screen ant touch the flowers they look so realistic Leslie. Wow so much depth of colour :)
Just gorgeous! Your water coloring is amazing. I've never heard of those paints.
Bautifully done! Isn't this arrangement fabulous?!
GORGEOUS, LOVE LOVE LOVE, This just came through my email and after seeing your amazing awesome card guess I just got tp get it...
Fabulous colours and colouring, you are a real colourist.xx
Oh wow, so gorgeous, as always your painting of this is just amazing, beautiful coloring, makes the flowers look so life like. Great touch with the splattering too! I had to laugh about the Lucky Charms, I use to like that cereal as a kid, wonder if I would like it now ;)
This is a very special card, I hope whoever gets it knows how special it is!
Amazingly stunning. Trying watercolors may be in my future.
A true masterpiece for sure, Leslie!! So impressive, such perfection, and so beautiful.
Gorgeous perfect card Leslie! hope you`ll put this beauty in a frame, more like a photo than one you created, show`s how good you are at painting..
Hugs Pam x
Stunning, Leslie. Just stunning. I will admit that forget-me-nots have been one of my favorite flowers since I was a little girl. They bring back memories of walking in the creek, and picking them on the shady banks. You've captured their colors perfectly. Great pansies, and clover too. Such a beautiful card, Leslie. I'm in awe. Bev
You are such an artist Leslie and every time I see you do flowers I am blown away... This is stunning!
Wow Leslie your watercolouring is stunning. Those pansies look so real, the white/lilac once look so delicate, gorgeous.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Oh My word..... Paint... painting really now you have to go and show me another color medium that I will just stink at trying, but you will entice me once again to try. Girl... ;-) this is OUTSTANDING!!!! Seriously each petal either on the leaves or the flower is just gorgeous. My hats off to you once again as my color guru! You always inspire me Leslie, LOVE this!
I don't now how you do this card after card..another beauty! The blooms look so real and especially lovely on this cold winter day!
Oh Leslie, I'm so glad I found your blog and the photo with your sweet puppy just made me smile! What a joy! Oh your Power Poppy card is just dreamy and absolutely enchanting - your use of color and design are absolutely inspiring. I just recently learned of PP and they seem like it would be so hard to color, but yours is just worthy of a frame! Gorgeous xx
Beautiful water coloring, the colors are just gorgeous!
I can't believe this is done on a card! Leslie, you need to translate this to canvas and sell your art! It's WAY too good for a humble card unless you know the recipient is going to frame it. I know I'm gushing, but this is so stunning and professional!! Hugs, Darnell
This is absolutely stunning, Leslie! Your watercoloring is so soft and yet so detailed. I am just re-learning watercoloring, and it sure is different from Copics, isn't it?! I agree that watercolor makes you slow down...so so good for me! The depth of detail you achieved here is really quite amazing.
Beautiful no line coloring Leslie! I can only imagine how wonderful it is in real life!
I love watercolor! I've been sitting here looking at your card and drinking it in. Beautiful painting - the tips, creases, and folds of your pansies look wonderful. And the shadows and light on the vase blend so naturally. Even your patterned paper compliments the dainty forget-me-nots. Simply put Leslie, it's stunning! And I agree, an afternoon with watercolor and a nice cup of tea close by makes my day - I love the process!
Hugs,
Susie ~
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