When you tell the story of an early spring bulb, the way the leaves push through the still frozen ground, or the way the flower commands all of your attention in the frosty, bare landscape, don’t forget about the magic that is underground, the bulb that somehow knew it was time, even when it seems impossible that the fleshy green leaves could somehow survive the sub-freezing temperatures night after night.
They are also very cool to draw. If you have plenty, or if you plant annual tulips, go ahead and dig some up (you might not want to dig up your species or perennial tulips). Whatever medium you use to describe your spring flowers, photography, arrangement, words, or drawing, leaving the bulb attached will add more interest and tell a more complete story to the art you are creating.
I have started to increase the Muscari in the garden over the last couple of years, but I’m not ready to dig them up to draw them yet, so I bought a pot of them at the grocery store and thought we could make some loose sketches together.
Join me in the greenhouse for a short video on how I warm up before I start to make a drawing. Check out the downloadable PDF on how to get started with your painting.
Muscari:
Common name: Grape hyacinth
Family: Asparagaceae
Genus: Muscari
Type Species: Muscari botryoides
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