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Tag: reference photos

Bunnies In My Yard

Posted in Reference Photos

Bunnies In My Yard

I've written in the past about the bunnies in my yard. They are so darn cute….. except when they eat my flowering quince bush….   We have  what must be a vary  large new batch of babies nibbling in every corner of the yard.  They are palm size – so little and cute!

They've shown up regularly in my paintings over  the years.  They move too quickly to get lots of photos.  I guess I don't have the patience to sit quietly and wait for them. I'd make a lousy wildlife photographer.  But you can learn a lot about your subject by watching them in motion…..preferably inside with a nice cup of coffee. : – )   If you've ever  watched rabbits, they suddenly take off running in zigzags for no apparent reason, giving you get plenty of time seeing them in motion.  I love the more rounded features and short little ears of the babies.  And over time, you can tell the difference between them by size, narrowness of the face, and variations in fur coloring.

Here's a peek at a few photos I managed to grab of them:

Isn't he a cutie? He or she is only 4 –  5  inches or so from nose to tail.

Sometimes they get way too comfortable around here.  This was freshly planted with flower seeds. Guess it looked like a comfy place to hang out.  This is one of the photos taken from inside.

My New Trick For Getting A Great Flower Photo

Posted in Reference Photos

My New Trick For Getting A Great Flower Photo

I had an interesting idea for how to photograph a flower.  It's probably new to just me and has done by many others……  but, it worked fantastically. 

I was trying to get a close up photo of a Meyer Lemon flower  – my latest favorite new house plant. There were so many leaves and background distractions in the photos, so I grabbed a sheet of black paper. Held behind the flower, it  allowed me to get a photo of just the flower. And WOW  – a really great photo.  Take a look and see what you think!

Meyers lemon flower

Isn't that wonderful?!

Meyer's lemon flower

The black background really makes the white pop.

Meyer's lemon

and here is the baby lemon ?

More Lilies

Posted in Art Work, and Reference Photos

More Lilies

More lilies!  These  hardy lilies have traveled with us  to our current house.  They've been blooming brightly every spring for at least the past 12+ years.  They are patio lilies and spent the first few years in a container. Several  years ago I gave them their own spot in the garden.  I think they have earned it with their faithful spring blooms.  : – )

Orange Patio Lilies

I love their colors!

Orange Patio Lilies

They inspired one of my paintings ten years ago.

Orange Patio  Lilies painting

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Lilies in my Garden

Posted in Reference Photos

Lilies in my Garden

I noticed this morning that my lilies have buds. Can't wait for them to bloom!  What I like about lilies is all the varieties of colors and speckling. They are an easy plant that grows almost anyways, even in poor soil, and it comes back every year. I just wish their blooms lasted longer!

Lilies in bloom

I love this one – it looks like someone sprinkled it with paprika. It started in a container last year and is in the garden now.    Enjoy the rest of your day!

Miss Kim Lilacs

Posted in Reference Photos

Miss Kim Lilacs

 I'm painting for a client this week, but I do have my camera out to capture what is in bloom.  Got to be quick with some of these spring flowers to get a good photo before they're gone until next year. The Miss Kim variety of lilacs are flowering with their heavenly scent permeating  the yard. They are a small lilac, getting about 3 – 4 feet in height at maturity. I have them paired near bigger, later blooming lilacs on the hillside, making the hill look like it's cascading with lilacs.  Enjoy!

Miss Kim variety of Lilac

Miss Kim variety of Lilac

Miss Kim Lilac

Enjoy the rest of your day!