- June - Vegetable patterns, teaching in greenhouses and the colour apricot
Monthly update from my art studio
Hello everyone,
Do you have a favourite colour? Mine is green, but somehow apricot creeped in. Last autumn, in addition to native plants, I sowed several plants in with “apricot” in their name. Geum, digitalis, cosmea, calendula. Although loads of them have been eaten by slugs, they are now all about to flower consecutively, and I can’t wait for the blossoming party to begin.
In the Studio
I’m working on a project for a client I’ve collaborated with for a few years now, so I’m very happy to work on the sketches. Although it is often exciting to work for a new client, by working with clients on multiple projects, you know what they are looking for. It makes the whole process a bit more relaxed and you can better assess how to achieve a good end result.
Keeping a sketchbook has kept me motivated, trying out new techniques and materials. I’m currently experimenting with loose watercolours and am now trying to incorporate them into my regular illustration style.
I’m really enjoying teaching in the greenhouses of the Kweektuin in Haarlem! I will teach a new course this September :)
Art community updates
We’ve been drawing a lot of nests the past month! Having the right materials for a specific drawing really does make a difference. I’ve been trying out my nemesis: pastel (pencils). I so do love the look of pastel, but I’m not really into the mess it creates.
Nests timelapse + talking about pastel pencils
A timelapse for you showing my drawings during our latest drawing session - drawing nests. Every month, I look into my material cart and find a “forgotten material”, something I have neglected for a while. This month, I dug up my Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils - I absolutely love the look of pastels, but I don’t like all the mess they make. I used them mixed with other materials like pencils and brush pens.
In other posts and videos, you will find:
(All these posts and more is also available at Patreon)
Coming up :
Our live drawing sessions this month
Available at Patreon - Meadow Maestros tier:
Tues 18th of June 16:00 (4 PM) CEST - All paid Substack + Patreon members (Artisans and Maestros)
Please use this time zone converter to find the times in your area: www.worldtimebuddy.com
Favorite Art - one of mine and one of theirs
“Skörd” (harvest), is a wallpaper inspired by the cultivator Amanda Hellberg's plot of vegetables (or at least that’s what Pinterest tells me, I couldn’t find the artist). The pattern consists of beetroots, potatoes, artichoke and leaves from dandelion. I think they scanned the vegetables or dried them, to give them their “flattened” appearance, which for me is really pleasing to the eye.
When I stumbled upon the pattern above, it made me think of this “soup” pattern I created a few years ago. I usually draw more flowers than vegetables, but do enjoy a beetroot once in a while:)
Lovelies
Finding the joy in small things:
The book The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - apart from the pretty bookcover (I buy books based on their illustrated covers:). A beautiful, rich story, told in a very visual way.
Eating outside with my family
Ema Malyauka’s Patreon. Her approach to art is so playful, very inspiring and full of tips.
Thanks so much for reading, wishing you a flowerful and sunny June, see you in July!
What stunning art. Your vegetable garden is gorgeous. Congrats on the book, and thanks for sharing all of this.