Prairie Coneflower

I thought I was growing Black Eyed Susans in my border, but when I went to look the flower up, discovered that they were more likely some kind of prairie cone flower.  Who knew?  They took a couple of years to establish themselves, and for the first two years were perpetually attacked by deer. They were in full bloom when we returned from vacation, and they're beautiful.  Here's my take (from memory, so kind of abstracted), and a picture of the border.  

Great Lakes Adventure

My family just returned from a two week tour through Michigan and Wisconsin.  We went up through Michigan stopping at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and Mackinac, and got as far north as Isle Royale.  Isle Royale is a 3 h ferry ride from Copper Harbor, MI on the Keeweenaw Peninsula.  We had flat, flat water on the ride out and then 2-4 foot waves on the ride back.  2-4 feet doesn't sound like much until you're on a ferry--whew baby.

If you haven't clicked through, please do--there are three more paintings.

Sunflower Trio

Last week, I hosted our critque group, aka artist's group, which includes some absolutely phenomanal artists.  One of them brought me some sunflowers, which I just got to painting.  I think I'll go back in on the flower petals with some crayon.  The painting is approximately 18x24 inches on 300 1lb Fabriano Rough Paper.  Palette is Indigo, lemon yellow, quinacridone burnt orange, permanent yellow deep, undersea green, a little ultramarine blue, and a little pyrene orange.