Reflections of an Artist

Plein Air Painting at the Huntington

Blooming Yuccas

        The Huntington Library and Gardens has some of the happiest plants you will ever see.  Right now they are all in bloom, from the roses to the cactus garden.  Some of the plants are in such a profusion of growth that they barely look real. I joined Lynne Fearman to capture these glorious specimens in oil paints. 

        I headed for the lily pond and found the rain bird sprinklers running so it was a challenge to find a spot where I wouldn't get wet.  I set up and sketched first to help me focus on the important shapes.  During this process I decided to concentrate on the yuccas that where in bloom (Blooming Yuccas) and let the pond be a base to set off the plants.

       I scheduled to meet Lynne for lunch at 12:30, so I needed to get the colors and mood on the canvas quickly. Lynne and I had a lovely lunch and her painting of the gardens is wonderful. 

       Because of the short time I was painting, I needed to refine a few shapes in my studio. I added detail to the tree on the right, darkened the shadows on the pond and refined the lily pads.  I am very excited about the result. What do you think?