Golden wattle Ink and water colour
Winter is finally losing its grip and the first hint of spring is in the air. I have been walking on the Goldfield track where I found the best wildflowers last year and was rewarded with the first flowers of this year.
The wattle has been out for the last couple of weeks, it is the first to bloom and it heralds the end of winter in blazing golden glory. That bright yellow just makes you glad.
Golden Wattle Goldfield track Castlemaine.
I also found a new wattle that I hadn’t seen before. I had seen the bush, as it has very long, sharp, spiny leaves that scratch if you brush past it, but I hadn’t noticed its flowers before. They were little cream balls of fluff with just a hint of yellow.
Juniper Wattle or Prickly Moses Ink and water-colour
I also found a sundew, a little carnivorous plant that sends up the most beautiful and large white flower. It was supposed to be scented but I couldn’t detect any, it was probably over powered by the wattle above it. I have never known that we had these locally or that it had such a lovely flower, it has been a very wet winter so maybe the conditions have not been damp enough before. You can just see the sticky little hairs on the margins of the leaves that catch insects.
Scented Sundew Goldfields track Castlemaine.
Scented Sundew Ink and water-colour
There were also these lovely, little, bright, native buttercups, these are the most vibrant yellow flowers with a waxy coating so that they just shine in the sun.
Native buttercups
Native buttercups Ink and water-colour
I have tried a new technique with my water-colour pencils. I have rubbed the water brush over the pencil and painted this onto the paper, instead of using the pencils to colour on the drawing and mix them with water. This gives a much more of a water-colour look and a delicacy to the painting which suits these gorgeous little flowers.
Hannah and the Echidna
Just to add a little interest to our walk we spied a rather big, fat Echidna just off the trail. He heard us coming and hunkered down in the earth, not to pleased about being disturbed. Hannah was not sure what this strange being was, but manage to give it a right good barking at before hiding behind me. The Echinda wasn’t much bothered and ambled off once we backed off to an appropriate distance.
I must apologies for my lack of posts for the last couple of months, but my niece has been very ill over that time and other dramas have sapped my energy, there has been very little drawing and no blogging. But my niece is much better and I now have the energy to draw and post again. Yippee. The sunshine helps as well.
To further my recovery and my sister’s, we are going to treat ourselves to a quick trip to Bali for more sun and warmth, in 10 more sleeps (I am so counting the days). So I am busy making a new journal to take with me and of course I will share my travels with you.
Karen
Karen Bailey Studio 
So lovely to “see” your Spring. We are heading into Fall so it reminds me of our earlier Spring.
It’s the joy of having friends in different hemispheres, you get to see a bit of summer while you live through winter and vice versa. So glad to bring early spring to your late summer.
What a delicate touch with the pen and ink on these, Karen. They just sparkle with life. I like your use of the watercolor pencils.
So sorry to hear that life has been so difficult for you over the past few months. I’ve been missing you!
Yippee, so pleased to get the tick of approval from such a fine water colourist as yourself. Still trying to leave white paper in the drawing, your advice echoes in my head every time I do water colour Ruth. That is a good thing by the way. 😉
And there are so many times when I get done with a painting when I wish that I had remembered to listen to that same advice. So, hurrah for the do-over, the second chance, the mulligan and the white of the paper!
Lovely watercolors and your plant-life is so interesting and beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Haunani, so pleased you liked my sketches. It is always fun to see another country through someone’s sketchbook.
What a beautiful mix of photos with watercolours. Your post is as fresh as a warm spring day.
Thank you Julie, that is so kind, hope your weather is being kind to you and not too windy.
What beautiful spring plants and flowers. Lovely sketches Karen. I’m excited for your Bali trip too and more beautiful sketches!
Thanks Cathe, can’t wait myself. Been busy making a little sketch book for the trip. I have finished my main spread in your sketchbook and will add my sketches to the group page, then I will send it back home to you. Mine arrived today, so lovely to see it all, sketches even more beautiful, as was your card. Thank you so much.x
Lovely to see you back, and sad that life has been difficult for you and your family. I look forward to seeing the Bali drawings, I remember the lovely sketches from last time. I shall try the trick with the watercolour pencils. Lovely drawings by the way! Sue
Thanks Sue, so glad you liked the drawings and my new way with the w/colour pencils. Life is getting back on track now, though it was a bit of a dark time for awhile. Sun and warmth in Bali will drive all the blues away!! Can’t wait. Karen
I especially love “Scented Sundew.” The colors are wonderful and it has so much movement in it. I am glad things are getting better for you and your family and hope you have a great time in Bali.
Thanks Nancy, I was totally amazed by the sundew, it is incredible what you find when you go slowly and look carefully. I always enjoy the tiny treasure of nature.
Welcome back and may your days be as sweet as your watercolors these days … now and always
Thank you so much.
A lovely collection of images, Karen. The sundew and different wattle are my faves. PS: Enjoy Bali. 😎