Skip to main content

African Violets


 African violets
sketchbook page

I painted this sketch slowly, over a few day's time.  I use my sketchbook to experiment towards improving my skills although I seem to always find myself in a hurry to finish the sketches. It took my African Violets over two years to bloom, I felt compelled to capture this achievement!

The flu is making the rounds around my household once more, I hope everyone else is well!
Labels:

Comments

  1. Joan Tavolott22 January 2015 at 23:48

    I'm impressed with your work on the doily under the flowers as well as the flowers. Great job! Hope everyone there bounces back quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco23 January 2015 at 14:12

      Thank you so much Joan, making lots of warm soups this week!

      Delete
  2. Carol Blackburn23 January 2015 at 03:11

    Very pretty Celia.

    ReplyDelete
  3. martine paquet23 January 2015 at 04:10

    Celia, your african violets are gorgeous. I like the mute tones and the complexity of the lace.
    Hope you do not have the flu..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco23 January 2015 at 14:12

      Hi Martine, I was the first one to catch it, now I've gotten everyone else sick.Thank you for your kind comment!

      Delete
  4. Debi Hinshaw23 January 2015 at 05:07


    I love this painting Celia, the detail is gorgeous, African Violets are so pretty. Good for you getting them to bloom, it takes a while sometime for certain flowers to bloom - the reward is worth the wait I'm sure. Stay well Celia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco23 January 2015 at 14:13

      Hi Debi, I have a special pot for African Violets, maybe this helps? Thank you for your visit!

      Delete
  5. Lorraine Brown23 January 2015 at 11:25

    Can see why you would want to capture your blooms Celia, great job too on the lace

    ReplyDelete
  6. Eva 23 January 2015 at 12:32

    Celia, tus flores africanas son sencillamente preciosas!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Celia Blanco23 January 2015 at 13:31

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbra Joan23 January 2015 at 14:50

    Celia, this is so pretty... I have had African violets on my window sills for years.
    They like a northern window... light but no sun...
    So glad they bloomed for you...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Manon,Stéph♡Mia23 January 2015 at 16:12

    Bonjour Célia,
    Quel bonheur cette jolie floraison, c'est très beau ♥

    Bisous

    Manon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco24 January 2015 at 23:38

      Thank you Manon, wishing you a wonderful weekend!

      Delete
  10. Jane23 January 2015 at 17:09

    Hello Celia. The flu has visited my household too, this week it was my turn, but better now. Your african violet is beautiful , and I wonder, how do you paint lace so perfectly , is there a trick to know ?? Wish you a happy (and healthy) weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco24 January 2015 at 23:55

      I'm sorry to hear this Jane, I hope you are taking care of yourself!

      I draw lightly the lace as one circular pattern, then lightly draw smaller circles within the circle, following the pattern of my doily. I then picked out some of the details and shapes of the design. I then erase the many light lines I drew as guidelines.

      Thank you for your visit, sending you a warm hug!

      Delete
  11. Diana23 January 2015 at 18:39

    Lovely painting Celia, my sketchbook has so many scratchy sketches. I hope you all are feeling better soon!! This is so beautiful!! love to you,Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco24 January 2015 at 23:57

      Thank you for your kind comment and good wishes, Diana!

      Delete
  12. Laura24 January 2015 at 10:40

    Celia perhaps it does us good to regularly change the pace of how we paint. Maybe it stops us getting stuck in a rut. Love this especially the delicacy on the doily. Hope everyone is better soon. Take care. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco24 January 2015 at 23:59

      Thank you Laura, I'm happy you agree! Hope you are taking good care of yourself! Have a peaceful Sunday!

      Delete
  13. Helen H Trachy24 January 2015 at 14:45

    Looks like a fragile flower plant but no not at all. I think you've been talking and spoiling your plant Celia, to get it to look so charming! Lovely work on the doily too. Hope you're ok, Hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco25 January 2015 at 00:02

      That is a great idea Helen, I should talk to my plants! I know you know a lot about growing beautiful flowers. Thank you for taking the time to leave me this nice comment! A big hug to you as well!

      Delete
  14. laura24 January 2015 at 16:30

    So lovely! I love the gentle way you've handled the flowers and leaves, the built up washes--gives them a soft glow!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Debbie Nolan24 January 2015 at 20:12

    Dear Celia - what a wonderful sketch as well as a great composition. Brings back wonderful memories too because my Grandma used to grow African Violets. She could get them to bloom but I have a plant sitting on my kitchen counter that hasn't bloomed in years...still green and growing but no flowers. So glad to see yours did. Take care and hope everyone recovers from the flu. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:22

      Thank you so much for taking the time to visit to leave this lovely comment!
      My thoughts and prayers are with your mother, that she may get well soon!

      Delete
  16. hmuxo24 January 2015 at 23:33

    Your African Violets are so beautiful, Celia. I have very bad luck in keeping them alive..... I hope you're feeling better...take care, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:23

      Much better, especially with such warm and kind comments, thank you Hilda!

      Delete
  17. Wendy Barrett25 January 2015 at 15:06

    Ooh! I love this Celia! You've captured the plant's essence perfectly - a really lovely painting! Well done with getting it to flower. I once had a beautiful African violet that flowered copiously and thrived for a few years. I didn't have any luck with a few successors but your painting has inspired me to try again. I think the trick is to find the perfect position for them.
    I hope you're feeling better soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:24

      So nice to see you Wendy! Thank you for your kind comment and visit! I really enjoyed your beach photos!

      Delete
  18. Wildflowerhouse25 January 2015 at 19:58

    You have certainly captured the delicacy of violets. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:25

      Thank you for your visit to my blog and kind words Sharon!

      Delete
  19. art by Michael Perchard25 January 2015 at 21:49

    Oaky my new FB art buddy! I am so happy to follow you on your art blog and on FB! Only problem I am not sure when or where I many have commented! I so love these violets and the doily! Great art and great skill! Luscious comes to mind! Of course I echo what Wendy B. wrote! "Capture The Essence Perfectly!" Bravo Buddy!
    Michael

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:28

      Same thing happens to me Michael, don't worry! I am always happy to hear from you anytime and anyplace. Take care in the winter storm, hope all is well! Un caldo abbraccio

      Delete
  20. Laura Leeder26 January 2015 at 15:01

    Celia, it's a lovely painting! Your colour choices are perfect as well! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco26 January 2015 at 23:32

      Thank you Laura, your comment means a lot to me!

      Delete
  21. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com30 January 2015 at 05:00

    Oh Celia - this is truly beautiful. I do hope you paint it again - larger. This is so well done all you have to do it copy it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com30 January 2015 at 05:00

    Oh Celia - this is truly beautiful. I do hope you paint it again - larger. This is so well done all you have to do it copy it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Catharina Engberg1 February 2015 at 10:35

    It is so nice! I think the colours are so soft and pretty. Love the violett. And it is good to take the time and not hurry a painting. I do that too often.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco6 February 2015 at 12:19

      I'm very happy you like it Catharina, it means a lot to me!

      Delete
  24. Carole Baker4 February 2015 at 19:21

    What a sweet painting. I hope the flu has left your house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco6 February 2015 at 12:20

      Thank you ,Carole, it has and lets hope it stays away!

      Delete
  25. Ramakant Pradhan5 February 2015 at 21:21

    It's beautiful. I was so lost in the painting, it took some time to register it was a sketchbook. Hope you and your family will be back in prime of health soon.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Carmella Tuliszewski12 February 2015 at 15:14

    Hi there Celia. The flu, oh no, hope you're all taking care of yourselves!
    This turned out beautifully! As the mother of two very grown children,
    (27 & 30 yikes!) I know your girls will cherish your sketchbooks as they grow up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco12 February 2015 at 23:07

      Thank you Carmella, we are much better now. I sure hope they do, when they were smaller we would collaborate on some drawings. Great memories!

      Delete
  27. Jo Castillo24 February 2015 at 21:23

    This is beautiful, I admire you as a watercolorist with your patience and dedication. Lovely colors.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy 2015!!

 Clementine watercolor on paper  20x14 cm.   I am very excited to start off the new year because of the opportunity to focus on what lies ahead. My  goals for the coming months include many positive wishes!  I have written out a physical list for the first time in my sketchbook  to be able to draw a balance at the end. My first painting of the year is a clementine. The contrasting colors and the long shapes of the leaves  are always fun to paint; the fruit's taste is definitively delicious and brightens the dreary winter. I wish all of you a joyful, creative year! Happy 2015!
56 comments
Read more

Parsley

Parsley watercolor on Garza Papel paper 20x14 cm. 300 grs Parsley is my favorite herb, I always keep a pot close to my kitchen. It is an interesting subject to improve leaf painting skills. I did minimal prelimanary drawing to keep the painting spontaneous. I focused on layering the shapes and observing the fresh colors in front of me.  I found parsley leaves fun to paint and instrumental in gaining more awareness and control when painting leaves! working from life is always my favorite! finding the right mix of color I can't believe this is my 100th post. Thanks for stopping by!
43 comments
Read more

Pansies

 Pansies with Lemon  watercolor on cold pressed Daler Rowney paper  10" x 10" / 25 x 25 cm.  Available I wished to paint the happy faces of the pansies I planted earlier in the fall. They are hardy plants, lasting through the winter on my balcony. Soon I will have to pull them out and replace them with petunias or begonias, but not for another month. I love the different shades of purple and had fun mixing my own. I hope everyone is having a nice week!
45 comments
Read more