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Category: Reference Photos

Philadelphia Flower Show

Posted in Reference Photos

Philadelphia Flower Show    

 

I had a chance to go to the Philadelphia Flower Show last week.  What a thrill!  It is the world’s largest indoor flower show held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  I went armed with my camera looking for reference photos and to enjoy the whole show.  Enjoy some scenes of  the show:

     

 

It is a site to behold! 

 

 

  

 

     

 


 

 

         Lots of lots of tulips and beautiful orchids

 This is the largest Christmas cactus I've ever seen – over 3 feet in width

Snowy Branches

Posted in Reference Photos

Snowy Branches

Hi Everyone!

More snow today!  The weather forecasters were announcing up to 1 inch of snow and rain. If they had looked out their windows they would have seen over 3 inches and heavy snow!  Sometimes Mother Nature doesn't follow the computer forecast. : – )

Seemed like a good day to take some reference photos for snow, especially snow on tree branches. I've painted several small paintings of snow scenes and it's always good to have good reference photos of how the snow sits on the tree branches. Stronger branches  will hold quite a bit of snow with no slagging. The viburnum is a good example:

             

The snow will sit on the branches and nestle in the crooks and V's of the branches. Pine trees and decorative grasses sag under the weight of snow.  Snow piles on the branches and cause the whole branch to sag under the weight.

                                 

A good understanding of how snow sits on branches with help make a snowy scene painting even better:

Here's a small example.   I'm looking forward to painting more snowy paintings.   Enjoy your day!

The Mighty Butterfly Bush

Posted in Reference Photos

The Mighty Butterfly Bush

 

 

Hi Everyone!

We're one of the 49 states that got snow this past week.  It's a great time to pull out the camera and get some great snow photos. I was surprised to see most of the butterfly bushes scattered around the yard have new buds and leaves. Nothing seems to stop these fun plants. Not temperatures in the single digits, not snow, not the shorter winter daylight.  They just keep on doing their thing.

 

                                  

I am looking forward to this summer when they are in full bloom, loaded with butterflies. And to finishing the large painting of these wonderful butterflies and plants that I have started.