Watercolor in Canson 7 x 10″ Sketchbook
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I’d planned to spend my painting time in the studio today but it was too gorgeous outside to stay indoors. So I pulled up a lawn chair and painted this iris in my front yard. I drew it in pencil and then added watercolor, all the while listening to birds chirping (and the sounds of the nearby freeway which I pretend is the ocean), with the sun shining, the bees buzzing around me and the wind blowing my hair.
These irises are heart-breakingly beautiful. They are so fragile and temporary. One day they’re proudly blooming, thrusting their strong, wild purpleness proudly up to the sun and the next day they’ve turned to a little wisp of gelatinous film, drooping sadly from their stalk. I’m glad I was able to sit with this one for an hour and enjoy it’s beauty before it’s gone.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
18 replies on “Iris in my Garden (EDM: Fresh)”
Such a lovely sunstruck flower–I can almost smell it!
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GLORIOUS—!!! Such wonderful color and softeness, Jana!!!! LOVE IT!
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Beautiful, gorgeous. In fact, stunning! I think the sun, the breeze and the birdsong are all caught in your watercolor.
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Beautiful! Even the bit that is fading away. I would call this excellent use of the day.
🙂
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Lovely iris. They always make me smile. They were my mothers favorite flower.
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Jana, this is beautiful. Your work inspires me! I love the spa sketches too…what fun!
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Golly, I feel the same way about these spring days and my irises. I think you made the right choice to be outside with them. I’m experiencing the down side of all this lovely spring outdoorsness just now – a really oozy ghastly case of poison oak!
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Beautiful painting! Flowers seem to have something to tell us about how fragile and short life is.
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Gorgeous. You’ve really captured the essence of an iris.
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This is a breathtakingly beautiful painting of a glorious flower! So inspiring to see your work, Jana!
Ronell
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Now, that’s what I call and Iris! Stunning.
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Stupendous! Great color and composition too. I wish I had irises.
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Ahhh- gorgeous!
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Oh wow, this one is gorgeous. LOVE the dark purple.
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Umm, incredible deep purple! I love to see your elegant Florentine iris and my homely, little purple-freckled one, too.
Gorgeous, gorgeous sketch, dear Jana.
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Scrumptious, I tell you – what a glorious time well spent!! Beautiful!
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It is beautiful! Try this with the dying flowers. Lay some flower heads on some watercolor paper and take a brayer and run over the heads on the paper.
Pigment from the flowers leave beautiful marks on the paper. Then do a painting after the pressing.
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OMG, this is so beautiful! I love iris’ and when mine bloom, I will be out there with my colored pencils. My goal is to do them in pastel and watercolor, when I figure out how. Thanks for sharing this beautiful painting. Absolutely gorgeous!
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