February Flowers

29 Glorious Days of Painting Flowers with 882 Amazing Artists

Creating a multitude of chaos layers (under layers) to prepare for the daily prompts.

Throughout the month of February, the studio I am a member of hosts an art challenge called February Flowers. Members are invited to make art…each day…that corresponds to a single word prompt. Our Instructor, Amanda Evanston Freund, posted the calendar of 29 prompts in late January, allowing each of us to ponder the possibilities. Those of us interested signed up and began prepping for the daily creativity bursts.

On February 1, the first prompt was posted and artists within the group raced to their studios to meet the challenge. And so it has been for 18 days now…a daily feast of flowers from 882 talented artists. Watercolor, Acrylics, pastels, oils, pencils, pens, markers and crayons. A visual bouquet of realism, abstract, Impressionism, blind contours, and simple sketches. Join me over the next three weeks as I share my Flower journey.

The personal gains to each artists vary but for me I have found a multitude of gifts in this 29 day journey.

• It has created a daily practice that holds me accountable to others.

• It is establishing a discipline of routines and fostering an artistic practice within me.

• Each day, I plan for the current prompt or one that is on the horizon.

• I am playing with palettes schemes and styles.

• Researching the topic and studying photographs for ideas.

• Feasting on the ideas, techniques, and camaraderie of the other artists.

I have not let a day go by without putting something on paper. There have been failures and successes. I have learned from each.

The prompts: Spring, Striped, Meadow

SPRING - the first sign is always the cherry blossoms. STRIPES - a magical birch forest. MEADOW - an Italian Poppy field.

The Prompt: Geraniums, Bird, Fluffy

GERANIUM - a blind contour warm up from the photo and then my interpretation.

BIRD - a whimsical little fantasy bird.

FLUFFY - Our instructor gave us a twist. She posted a video of this vase of flowers. She asked us to take our favorite screenshot and paint. My eyes captured the fluffy pillow. With limited time I opted to skip the stripes.

The Prompt: Dorothy, Tree Blossoms , Cheerful, Grandma

DOROTHY - St Dorothy is the Patron Saint of Gardeners.

TREE BLOSSOM - Eastern Red Bud in bloom.

CHEERFUL - Who couldn’t look at a Sunflower and break out with a smile?

GRANDMA - From my two Grandma’s (Francis and Olive), I have collected teacups and teapots and my love of Hydrangeas.

Join me next week as we explore more February Flowers prompts and art.