Gardens that bring life and color to the home
I love nature, trees and of course gardens. I love wild out of control English gardens, cultivated French gardens, sunny Italian courtyard gardens and creative art and sculpture gardens. Anything that grows, with color and form and texture is fascinating to me. So this post is to celebrate all of the people who create beautiful gardens, and all of my clients who have commissioned me to capture their garden life in a pen and watercolor painting.
Additionally you will note that when I select a home to do a portrait of, or am commissioned to create one, I never solely focus on the home but equally on its garden and natural surroundings. This way I feel I can capture the true personality of the home!
Allow me to give you a sampling of some of my favorite gardens so you get a better idea. This is the back of the a magnificent home in Newton Square Pennsylvania that folks don’t usually get to see. As you can imagine, the front is pretty impressive too. Two years ago the homeowner found me on the Internet and commissioned me to create a large painting of the front of his home as a gift for his wife for Christmas. Then last year he contacted me again and this time had me do a painting of the back in order to have a matching pair. What a great spot to swim and relax in!
Similarly, the homeowner of a lovely classic Colonial home in Alexandria Virginia commissioned me to do this painting which is the back of her home. I found it to be teeming with plant and bird life. My client explained to me that the little screened in outdoor structure and patio was a quiet and restful spot that the entire family loved to retreat to in the warmer months. She now has both paintings hanging together in her home.
And here for some variety is a sun splattered Italian courtyard that I sketched and then painted one sunny day some years ago in Milano, Italy. I gave it as a gift to a dear friend who has a special love for Italy.
One of the places that I would love to visit when living in Alexandria, VA was the idyllic River Farm which is situated on 25 acres of landscaped lawns and gardens and is one of the Washington, D.C. area’s premier gardening destinations. The property was acquired by George Washington in 1760 at which point he changed its name to River Farm. It now serves as the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society.
Here are two of my favorite spots at River Farm, an ambling pathway and arched brick wall and a weather beaten bench under a flowering Chaste Tree.
And finally an example of a wildly unique drought tolerant art sculpture garden created on a quiet residential street in Glendale, California.
I love painting in gardens too. Inspiring.
Thank you for your art inspiring gardens. Happy gardening!
Leisa
