Orchids

8.5x10.5 watercolor of pale yellow orchids I photographed while plein air painting at Alldredge Gardens in Midland, TX recently.
The handmade A4 rough paper was bought when visiting the Tate Gallery in St. Ives, Cornwall and I was afraid it would not be suitable for a fluid floral.  The bottom image is sans background just to show the difference a little dark makes.  In the finished work you can see other orchids and some pots top center.  Quite fun and entertaining! I can paint them but not grow them.

Garden Center Rabbit plein air vignette

Top image is 12x9 watercolor on Langston 140 lb cold press paper, done this morning plein air during our group paint out (Watercolor Horizons in Odessa, TX).  I took about 1.5 hours to sketch then paint with travel palette and outdoors gear.  Bottom image is a photo of the statue which was quite large.  Afterwards, we had lunch amongst the flowers and plants at Alldredge Gardens beautiful environment.