Tulip Day

My extremely modest ‘rows’ of tulips

 I’m thinking about our daughter in California today, whose favorite flower is the tulip. When she was a child, our family would go out to the fields where thousands of tulips made a colorful patchwork as far as you could see. We were allowed to park along the roadside then. Kodak would choose a particularly dramatic view and build a platform for anyone to climb up and get some great snapshots.

Today we are under “shelter at home” self isolation because of the Covid-19 pandemic.  California has not been under this quarantine as long as we have. I have been self in self isolation since March 28! If that is what it takes to protect ourselves and others from infection, then that is what we’ll do!

In the Skagit Valley they are already clipping off the tulip heads to promote the development of the underground bulbs. We are discouraged from venturing out to the tulip fields and causing traffic problems for the locals. So today I offer my modest little “field”.  I’ve left them to bloom beside the road for those on neighborhood walks to enjoy. Later today, difficult as it will be, I will cut these flowers down so that they will grow and propagate next year. I am pleasantly surprised that our feral rabbits haven’t already munched these down!

Again! Despite warnings to stay out of the rows, the studio mannequin can’t resist stepping in to get a few selfies.

My Haul from Pike Place Market last Saturday--And CSI

A day at Pike Place Market is full of treasure. My sketchbook, and a bouquet, of course.

And then there's the eerie parallel of my life with scenes from "Caddy Shack."

4.17.16---First, I noticed the decapitated tulip blossom on the deck. Then, the squirrel stared me straight in the face while he insolently consumed the entire stem like a stalk of celery. I've got evidence. CSI-Criminal Squirrel Investigator, Michele Cooper

The last day for my tulips from Roozengaard.4.16.16

Edible Flowers Make Lovely Tea

I am stuck in a dilemma--garden or studio? Planting or painting? Oh, and I could use a cup of tea!

Well, who says you can't do it all?

I ended up racing the late afternoon light, so I'll stop for now. I decided to keep the teapot lighter than the actual subject. It just seems to suit the floral mood.

There's an additional photo of the subject with preliminary pencil sketch on my IG at michelecooperart

Impromptu Visit to the Garden for Sunshine and Tulips

Come on out to the 70 degree sunshine on the deck where I made a 5 minute Periscope today. It's tulip time in the Pacific Northwest. Surprise! There's a tulip watercolor for you, too.

Catch the replay here on Periscope or here on Katch.

Tulip time

Plain air Watercolor at the tulip fields

Some of my painting buddies are out there on location today even as I post this. I wish I could be there with you but there's too much class preparation for me to do in the studio today. I am there with you in spirit. Always have been. In fact this photo is from May 1996. :)