friday evening again

It was a beautiful Friday evening here so I sat in the driveway and sketched the Oak Leaf Hydrangea that is just coming into bloom. It undergoes so many changes during the short summer months.

Right now it is a cluster of spring-green buds, starting to bloom from the bottom of the floral spike. The new blossoms are a delicate green, so paper-thin that you can see through them where they overlap. I'll try to sketch the progession and record it here - these transparent but pliant petals will change dramatically as the season progresses...



note: this is a watercolor and ink sketch on Aquerello paper (6"x6") rather than my usual moleskine. I wanted to see what a difference real watercolor paper would make. It is very significant when it comes to the way the colors take to the paper. The paper itself is a wonderful white that adds light-ness to the whole piece; the color, of course, grabs the tooth of the paper and just settles in without muddying. mmmmm. I guess I will have to check out the moleskines made with WC paper. hmmmmmmmmm.