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April 24th, 2024
We'll get to the questions in a moment, but first, Happy Birthday, to those born in the Month of May. This post is all about May's birth month flower, Lily-of-the-Valley.
Without a living specimen available to me I had to seek out reference photos that were commercial free. Meaning I could use them to paint from and still be able to sell my art and any art prints or products.
The questions started because of the small number of photos available. Leaving me remembering the last time I saw these flowers were street vendors in Helsinki Finland, wish I had purchased a bouquet for a thorough photo shoot in the hotel room.
Some of the questions I asked myself:
What would this flower look like in a garden?
Up close, from far away?
What is the actual size of the leaves, the flowers, the stems height?
Those lines you see in the leaves, can you see them from a distance?
Are they really that distinct?
All those green hues. . . you get the picture. I felt I had more questions than answers.
What Was Learned
6 to 12 inches tall
With two or three leaves
The flowering stem rises from the center of the leaves.
After learning something about the plant, next was discovering a composition for this birthday flower. A few sketches, six painting attempts and several color swatches later, a final painting.
May Birth Month Flower: Lily-of-the-valley
The lily-of-the-valley goes by many names and is not a lily, this flower is in the family Asparagaceae (aka asparagus), and botanical name Convallaria majalis from the Latin convallis meaning valley.
Our Lady's Tears
Lady's Tears
Mary's Tears
Mayflower
May Lily
May Bells
Mayflower
As you can guess by the names these flowers are bell shaped, while white is the most common, one might find them sporting pink or purple blossoms. This plant is considered toxic, hardy, great for ground cover, but beware in the right conditions it can grow and spread quickly.
Symbolism of Lily-of-the-Valley
Associated with motherhood
Sweetness
Purity and humility
As well as a return to happiness
Looking at when these flowers bloom in Spring I would say they certainly could be blooming as we leave the winter blues behind.
Why Mary's Tears? In Christian lore it is said these are from Eve's tears after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, and has been associated with Mary's tears sprouting these flowers at the site of Christ's crucifixion.
King Charles was gifted this flower for good luck on May Day, and he continued the tradition of gifting this flower on that day.
The fragrance of these flowers makes it popular for weddings, in Holland newlyweds plant them in their gardens to bring luck to the marriage.
Apparently if I want to see these in person I need to visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, sine apparently these flowers are planted their, or revisit Finland, where Lily-of-the-valley is the national flower.
Happy Birthday to You if May is your birthday month.
View the Art and products of the Lily-of-the-valley.
If you wish to learn more about this flower my resources of information were:
Your Painterly Artist,
Elizabeth
March 26th, 2024
Huntsville, AL Artist Elizabeth Reich of LZBTH Creative Content Cloud Studies Selected for an Alabama Women's Caucus of Art (ALWCA) Group Exhibit with Huntsville Hospital, Aims.
Cloud Studies Selected
Artist Elizabeth Reich of LZBTH Creative Cloud Studies pieces selected by ALWCA Exhibition Committee for: Calm Huntsville Hospital, Aims and Alabama Women's Caucus for Art (ALWCA) March 4-30, 2024 No opening or closing reception. Art will be displayed throughout Huntsville Hospital. 2024 is year 6 for a collaborative and diverse exhibition showcasing ALWCA members.
Pictured
A 20"x20" Polyptych of Watercolor Cloud Studies:
1. Spring Sky Cloudy Day – Stratocumulus Floccus Clouds
2. Sunrise Cumulus Clouds
3. Spring Sky Cloudy Day – Stratocumulus Clouds
4. Morning Clouds – Altocumulus Clouds
(top to bottom, left to right)
Clouds are Calming
When life gets a little much Elizabeth heads outside for a walk. Studying clouds, and taking in the natural world, or a colorful flower garden. This has always distracted her from the current troubles. She finds clouds fascinating. Their movement, how you can identify shapes of animals within them, and how light and color plays off of the clouds. This leaves Elizabeth restored.
What Inspired the Cloud Paintings
These studies were a focus on developing artistic skills in painting different types of clouds, as well as light and color play.
About the Artist
LZBTH Creative Content works with nature and floral paintings, as wells as surface pattern design. When painting, founder Elizabeth Reich sets out to portray the emotions felt and the view seen, when the natural element(s) inspired the question "How would this be painted?" Elizabeth is not a watercolor traditionalist, she enjoys exploring other mediums to mix with watercolors to achieve the feeling and visual scene that inspired the art. Elizabeth returned to art 10 years ago, after a moment of introspection she asked herself "What would my 8 year old self want to do?" The answer was "Watercolor!" The journey continues with loose and painterly paintings, what she calls "playing in colorful puddles." Elizabeth's artwork is inspired by nature and colorful gardens, reminders of past homes in New England and home in Huntsville, Alabama.
Elizabeth's Mission
To bring the gift nature offers her to the art viewer. Elizabeth sees her art as not just pretty, but a bridge between chaos and serenity. May these Cloud Studies bring you a moment of Calm.
Virtual Tour of Calm by ArtsInMedicine, Powered by kuula
March 22nd, 2024
In 2022 the spring Equinox was the 20th of March, by the 26th Elizabeth had had enough of the roller coaster temperatures and planted some seeds – peas, beans, squash, and potatoes. She was also ready to bring more spring colors to her paintings and April's birth month flowers challenged her to accomplish that.
April's Birth Month Flowers: Sweet Pea and Daisy
Sweet Peas are related to beans and other legumes, a close relative to the crop pea, however it is not edible. It is was discovered in Italy in the late 1600s by a monk, who is said to have sent the seeds to botanist Dr. Robert Uvedale who began the sweat peas' spread in Europe. Genus Lathyrus odoratus Family Fabaceae (legumes), there are hundreds of varieties and a wide range of colors (Elizabeth can attest to this after searching for reference photos).
Daisies are native to Europe and Africa and belong to the aster family, Asteraceae, that includes sunflowers. Its scientific name, Compositae, was classified in the late 1700s by German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke. Daisies date back to Egyptian gardens and were used for medicine.
Symbolism of Sweet Pea and Daisy Flowers
A Sweet Pea bouquet in flower language means goodbye, thank you, good wishes, kindness, gratitude and friendship. Their scent is likened to oranges or jasmine and at one point were placed in pockets to provide fragrance to clothing. In France this flower has been a tradition as gifts for the bride and is scene as providing luck.
Did you know the center eye of the Daisy is a flower too? Known as a disc floret. The daisy has two flowers – when you include the outer petals. Because of this the daisy has been a symbol of true love, (anyone with a Princess Bride movie clip running in their head?). Daisy lore goes as far back as the Celtics. It seems the word Daisy is bellis in Latin, from the nymph Belides who turned herself into a daisy to escape the god Vertumnus' affections. He was the god of gardens and seasons. It is also attributed to the words "day's eye" influenced by the English daisy that opens during the day and closes at night. Daisies are about keeping secrets, love, innocence and new beginnings.
Elizabeth wanted to bring these two flowers together as a bouquet (aka a posy), they have a beautiful symbolic sentiment for the beginning of spring, and looking for contrast she sought out vintage color palettes for the sweet pea. This painting is called Promising Beginnings inspired by the flowers symbolic meanings.
March 4th, 2024
Elizabeth has a fascination with the symbolism of flowers. When she explored the sunflower, she found that it is tied to women's contribution to American History. March is the month women's role in American history is commemorated and studied.
Van Gogh may have proclaimed the sunflower his, but Elizabeth Cady Stanton made it her own. Using it as a pen name when she wrote for the temperance-focused newspaper The Lily. Later the sunflower became a symbol for women suffragists.
Inspiration for this sunflower watercolor painting occurred while Elizabeth was taking a class on Botanical Illustration. An area of art and science open to women for ages. While dissecting sunflowers Elizabeth was inspired by the flower when it was cut in half.
Traditionally, a scientific botanical illustration aims to show all aspects of a botanical specimen, and how it differs from other species. With accuracy in rendering, scale, and color, set against the white of the paper. The final composition is a contemporary twist, rather than staying with tradition.
Find out about Scientific Botanical Illustration here: www.botanicalartandartists.com/scientific-botanical-illustration.html
A sign of optimism and joy. Kansas suffragists adopted the sunflower for its gold color. They viewed it as "[...] gold, the color of light and life, is as the torch that guides our purpose, pure and unswerving." (www.nps.gov/articles/symbols-of-the-women-s-suffrage-movement.htm)
LZBTH Creative Content works with nature and floral paintings, as-well-as surface pattern design. When painting, founder Elizabeth sets out to portray the emotions felt and the view seen when the natural element(s) inspired the question: "How would this be painted?" Elizabeth's artwork is inspired by nature and colorful gardens, reminders of past homes in New England and homes in Huntsville, Alabama. Learn about Elizabeth and her mixed media watercolors at: www.lzbthcreative.com
To learn more about Women's History month visit: www.womenshistorymonth.gov/
February 22nd, 2024
Huntsville, AL Artist Elizabeth Reich of LZBTH Creative Content Cloud Studies Selected for a ALWCA Group Exhibit with Huntsville Hospital, Aims.
Jurored In! Feeling Honored!
Artist Elizabeth Reich of LZBTH Creative Cloud Studies pieces selected by @Alwca Exhibition Committee for:
Calm
Huntsville Hospital, Aims and Alabama Women's Caucus for Art (ALWCA)
March 4-30, 2024
No opening or closing reception. Art will be displayed throughout Huntsville Hospital. 2024 is year 6 for a collaborative and diverse exhibition showcasing ALWCA members.
Watch for more news, or subscribe to LZBTH Creative's newsletter, Studio Insiders, to avoid the algorithm missing you.
Pictured:
A 20"x20" Polyptych of Watercolor Cloud Studies:
1. Spring Sky Cloudy Day – Stratocumulus Floccus Clouds
2. Sunrise Cumulus Clouds
3. Spring Sky Cloudy Day – Stratocumulus Clouds
4. Morning Clouds – Altocumulus Clouds
(top to bottom, left to right)
When life gets a little much Elizabeth heads outside for a walk. Studying clouds, and taking in the natural world, or a colorful flower garden. This has always distracted her from the current troubles. She finds clouds fascinating. Their movement, how you can identify shapes of animals within them, and how light and color plays off of the clouds. This leaves Elizabeth restored. These studies were a focus on developing artistic skills in painting different types of clouds, as well as light and color play. Elizabeth's mission is to bring the gift nature offers her to the art viewer. Elizabeth sees her art as not just pretty, but a bridge between chaos and serenity. May these Cloud Studies bring you a moment of Calm.
February 21st, 2024
Yellow Daffodils' trumpets are heralding spring in February, and offer themselves as wonderful references to create from. Living in the Southeast winter is about colder temperatures and rain, very rarely snow.
Meeting Coyotes
One warm and dry weekend I took a walk in my neighborhood, headed to where I know a patch of daffodils would be. I wasn't disappointed.
This area is backed up against an undeveloped foothill and was heavily wooded, I scanned for wildlife, not just squirrels. Without any sighting, I thumped my walking stick on the snowdrift of leaves to know my footing, checking for possible wildlife hiding there. Headed for the daffodils, I suddenly realized the leaf rustling wasn't just me. Stopping, I scan again. I realize I had found the neighborhood coyotes.
You know when you read something and you think you know what you'll do? Expect to freeze at your first encounter of something new, and actually these coyotes had a majesty to them, gorgeous coat colors of red browns and grays. Then the thought "Dogs don't like sudden movement." As I carefully and slowly backed towards the street, at about the same time the coyotes moved deeper into the forest and up the foothill. I decided with them moving on, I could snap my photos and then head home.
Spending February Creating
The rest of February found me painting daffodils, finding a composition, colors and pausing when another warmish and dry weekend occurred. This time the daffodils in my yard were blooming. So I grabbed a sketchbook, pencil, and stool and went outside to sketch them. The following week back to figuring out composition challenges and more painting.
By the end of the last week of February, I set aside everything I had done, and sat sketching out a completely different composition. I then transferred this to watercolor paper and inked with a brown Pigma Micron pen and painted with watercolor. Daffodils for March Birth Flower was finally completed.
I titled this new artwork: Daffodils in the Woods
Daffodil or Jonquil?
There are over 50 species, around 13,000 varieties of daffodils!
The Daffodil belongs to the narcissus genus (we've encountered this genus with paperwhites/snowdrops from January and of course December's narcissus) botanical name Pseudonarcissus commonly known as Wild Daffodil, with two inch trumpets and a love for the woods, while being deer and rabbit resistant.
Is a daffodil a jonquil? The saying goes,
"ALL jonquils are daffodils, but not all daffodils are jonquils."
So What's the difference? Daffodils produce a single flower on the stalk, with six tepals (commonly known as a petal). Jonquils usually have up to three flowers per stem, but sometimes one. This is the most common way of distinguishing the two.
Symbolism of Daffodil Flowers
Creativity, Inspiration, Renewal, Vitality, Awareness, Inner Reflection, Memory, Forgiveness are all associated meanings for the daffodil.
You have to appreciate Medieval Europe: that if a daffodil droops while you gaze on it, this was a sign of impending death.
In the U.S. it is the official sign for the American Cancer Association symbolizing hope for a cure.
With their sunny yellow and trumpet I can only think of celebration of Spring's arrival. A wonderful flower to celebrate birthdays in the month of March.
Your Painterly Artist,
Elizabeth
P.S. this blog post was originally written in 2022, just after Daffodils in the Woods watercolor painting was completed.
My Resources:
Jonquil vs Daffodil - the Difference
February 19th, 2024
My Process: Steps for a Watercolor Painting
Within this blog post you are taken on a journey through Elizabeth of LZBTH Creative watercolor painting process. Are you ready? Read on...
Confession: Painting with the video rolling doesn't happen and photos of every step are often forgotten.
To view the images visit the slide show of images
1. Reference or Inspiration
I start with the actual flower, still life or landscape. From sitting with he physical object, or taking personal reference images, which is preferred. Sometimes the use of copyright free commercial license images are used. When using photographys they are turned to grayscale to verify the values. (as you can see even a poor quality print out has its use).
02. Color Swatching & First Layers
1. Drawing image out (not pictured)
2. Create swatches of color and determining pigments and mixes that will be used in the painting.
3. First layers.
03. Glazing Layers and Adding background
1. Glazing: adding layers of watercolor paint over other a previous layer or layers of watercolor paint.
2. Adding the background.
3. Not pictured – touch ups and darkening the darks.
04. Starting again
Poof the course of the painting was changed. You were warned how photos are forgotten. The new course followed above. The first try rarely makes the cut. These paintings are saved for future experimenting.
Questions asked when troubleshooting a painting:
05. Photo Setup
Usually a tidied up painting surface becomes the photo surface. A camera phone is used to take the pictures.
Either Canva, the PIXLR or Snapseed app are used to crop and adjust lighting as needed.
06. Scanning and Uploading
Once happy with the painting, and it's dry, Next Steps:
1. Scan (liking the Epson V600)
2. prep in Photoshop for size requirements and if necessary color adjustments (the scanner is pretty reliable).
3. upload it to print on demand like LZBTH Creative's Pixels website for artprints and products.
4. Some originals (or prints) are matted, bagged and tagged, then brought to LZBTH Creative's booth located at University Pickers – Huntsville, 3405 Triana Blvd SW 35805
Thank you for visiting and reading.
Your Painterly Artist who loves playing in colorful puddles
Elizabeth
Book Recommendation:
Master Disaster Five Ways to Rescue Desperate Watercolors By Susan Webb Tregay
Images are ©Elizabeth Reich dba LZBTH Creative - Yesterdays - Bleeding Heart Flowers - @lzbthcreative - www.lzbthcreative.com - artwork available as prints and products.
February 19th, 2024
South Carolina Field Series came about during the months of July 2019-June 2020, when I began the journey many of us in the Sandwich Generation are trying to accomplish. Children just beginning to leave the nest and trying to be independent, parents aging, and your own voice wanting to be heard. I made several trips, traveling roughly 500 miles to care for my widower father. These trips were by car or flying. Plenty of scenes passed by. My father's home is almost an hour from his medical providers, these trips provided many fields of rural South Carolina to pass by. One in particular caught my attention, the one with a dash of red violet. Slowly on several different watercolor paper surfaces, and sketchbooks with whatever paints I had with me or with the ones I returned home to, the scenes offered by this particular field, and with some influence from others, a series of paintings unfolded.
First Glance (6" x 41/2") Funny, this was almost the last one to be painted. It depicts how fleeting nature passes by a moving vehicles window and how it can take just one thing to catch our attention and says, "Go back, LOOK or at least pay attention more the next time you drive by."
Atmospheric Study (61/4" x 51/4") One of the many studies I completed trying to bring these impressions to life. I found this one to have simplistic beauty, which is what impressed me about the fields I saw, they were beautiful in their simplicity.
Sunny (Field) Day (12" x9") The expanse of the sky, the expanse of the field, both vie for your attention. Therefore, I nearly broke compositional rules of never putting the horizon line dead center to depict this fight for attention. Sunny skies call you to pay attention, but that light playing on the colors of this South Carolina Field, makes its own call. The paintings title . . .do you recall having field days during your school days, wishing it would be a sunny one? Current memory mixing with the past.
Field as Color Field (8" x 10") I enjoy painting washes of watercolor and wish I took the time to do so more often. This field with its blend of greens , blue sky and splash of yellow during the spring with the red violet still making an appearance called for a wash of color to show them all off.
Rain On Me (11" x 8") A what if use of watercolor pigment with neocolor water soluble wax pastel in paynes gray and lots of water. This one is from spring rains, when yellow first began to emerge. Have you ever witnessed rain that seems to hit the ground and bounce back to the sky? No? Watch the next hard rain on a flat field (rest stop, side of the road when in traffic will do). Sunshowers are even better. From inside your car, now you have it made.
After the Rain (11" x 8") The intensity of color following a rainstorm, the mist that rises from the field just blurring out distant trees. Remnants of clouds becoming sunny sky. Hints of Hope from Nature.
Gray Day (4 1/4" x 6") A tiny painting, I'm not one to let Gray days take over, but they do happen. Even they can offer some intriguing colors. When my children were curious toddlers they taught me to pause, look, and be surprised, something I carried with me as time passed.
Winter Study (5" x 6") The brown and wet of winter in the Southeastern States. The mud nearly blurs out the red violet that first caught my attention. The color scheme of winter makes it difficult for me to maintain my optimism and find beauty, until I catch the mystery fog and mist offers when it dances across the landscape. Acrylic ink was used for emphasis of landscape elements.
Spring's Arrival (6" x 41/2") Spring brings more rain, greening of the fields with dashes of other blooms. Magic can happen on small pieces of watercolor paper and in tiny corners of the field. Yellow blooms with red violet caught my attention and contrasted well with the green offered, in a tiny corner of the field. I am beginning to learn to turn to nature and trust it with choosing my color palette.
The 9 collage image is just thumbnails of each of these paintings, I would love for you to stop by to visit these paintings: lzbthcreative.com/collections/south+carolina+field+series
February 19th, 2024
Snowdrop's symbolism is optimism, hope, celebration and innocence
Many legends are about this flower celebrating the arrival of spring or some story of hope. The Victorians had their own symbolism – sadly that of death, seeing these flowers as bad luck.
My research has four hopeful legends. I am going with these, and have called my artwork: Jubilee, because many of us celebrate at winter's end.
Interested in checking out the legends? This website provides a good summary:
www.flowermeaning.com/snowdrop-flower-meaning/
My other resource:
www.almanac.com/content/january-birth-flowers
To view the art provide a link to the art
Thank you for visiting and reading.
Your Painterly Artist,
Elizabeth
January 23rd, 2024
The uniquely shaped Bleeding Heart flowers were one of my favorite flowers in my Mother's gardens. A community challenge themed Heart's Delight, had me returning to paint Bleeding Heart flowers using watercolors. Almost certain this one is attempt number six, counting past years and present.
What was the challenge?
Using others and my photos as reference, faint memories of gardens thick with flowers, and trying to compose them together. Color theory played a role too! Finding greens to compliment the pink while coming close to what was on my computer screen since I didn't have a live specimen. Living flowers in the studio for color matching is best. Then finding deeper greens to contrast and create that 3d illusion on a 2d surface so the flowers POP!
This one brought back memories of Yesterdays, thus the paintings name.
Symbolism of Bleeding Heart Flowers
The Bleeding Heart's botanical name was Dicentra spectablilis, from the Greek for two spurs and spectacular. It is now known under its genus name Lamprocapnos. The flower's symbolism is all about love – the deep connection between two people, compassion for others and the world around us, wearing your heart on your sleeve, as well as spurned love.
Stop by the shop to view the bleeding heart flower art, perfect for Valentine's, less than a month away. If you are into gifting here are a few suggestions:
All of the above gives the gift of art in unique ways beyond the wall art, or a greeting card, that are available too. Tap these words to Shop for Bleeding Hearts
May your Valentine's Day be filled with creating moments with the ones you love.
Your Painterly Artist,
Elizabeth
sources:
www.flowermeaning.com/bleeding-heart-flower-meaning
www.thespruce.com/growing-bleeding-heart-plants-1402834
