Spring is the one I long for most of the four seasons. This season has had a special meaning to me since my childhood. This time of the year gives me so much energy and positive vibes. I like to walk in the surroundings, breathe in the fresh air, and get lost in the fragrance and glorious floral displays. I wanted to make the most of this season and paint some of the beautiful flowers. There are so many, I wish I could sketch all of them. So, I picked five spring flowers along with their stories to share with you.
Snowdrops (Galanthus)
Snowdrops were a hit to me at the end of the cold season. I never really paid so much attention to observe them in detail. This changed this year when I became a friend of the Cambridge Botanic Garden. On my first visit this year, the snowdrops were already out, and I was amazed at the myriad species in the garden. These tiny, fragile flowers just stole my heart, and I sketched them over and over again. In fact, I drew the first snowdrops for Melinda Wild’s lovely class on Skillshare. She broke down the whole process into manageable steps, which made the entire class very easy to follow. Then I took my experiment a bit further and took another class, this time painting with gouache for the first time in my life. Jana Raninis gave a great introduction to gouache, comparing it to watercolour, which helped me better understand this fascinating medium.
Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium Dens-Canis)
This flower is my all-time favourite spring flower. Not just because it reminds me of my childhood, but I also find its shape fascinating. I was lucky to spend my childhood close to nature. When the snow melted, we visited the local forest daily to spot the first violets. From the fallen dry leaves first appeared their fresh green leaves, and then we knew that the first buds would follow soon. When we collected our first dogtooth violet bouquets, we knew spring had definitely arrived.
Tulips (Tulipa)
When I spot these flowers in nature, I know I need to enjoy every minute of the fresh spring air because it will soon be over. This flower is special to me because it reminds me of when I took my first macro photo with a digital camera. It was a long time ago, but I will not forget that feeling when I started to practice taking such photos. I always cherish this moment and recall it whenever I spot a tulip. This flower is so versatile in terms of beauty. The flower buds are known for being almost perfectly symmetrical, which gives them an elegant look. I like how they look in each stage of their life. Even when they are old and soft, they still look beautiful. I recently truly enjoyed a mark-making course by Denise Comeau, who demonstrated on tulips how the scraping technique works to create looseness.
Daffodils (Narcissus)
I never saw so many daffodils in one place in my life than in the UK. When they are in full swing, they are just everywhere, and I love it. It reminds me of the time when I arrived in this country. It was April, and the yellow patches of daffodil combined with the green grass created a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. I didn’t know much about these flowers before, but this changed that spring. They never cease to amaze me with their elegant look and sweet scent.
Crocuses (Crocus Sativus)
All my life, I thought that crocuses were autumn-blooming. Only recently, I discovered that they are blossoming in springtime as well. Love to observe the purple, yellow or white patches in the green grass. They add so much beauty and life to a dull scene. They look so crisp and welcoming. Recently I discovered that spring flower beds were planted in the nearby park. It felt so good to visit it daily and get lost in the beauty of these flowers, observing every little detail of them.
