Zen In The Garden

Posted bydebirileyPosted inart, health, inspiration, painting, photographyTags:, , , , , , , ,
zen garden tropical retreat, foliage greens, calm, debi riley art, debiriley.com

Gardens, such  lovely retreats.  With snippets of shy fronds peering out amidst the green fresh oasis.  Relaxing and serene.  In the zen like stillness there is action and movement, if I look. In the garden’s serenity,  I find my artistic energies refuelled.

zen garden tropical retreat, foliage greens, calm, debi riley art, debiriley.com
Zen Garden

 

Creating Art From the Garden

 

Zen In The Garden …  my creative art endeavour for today is this post.

It counts as art.

It is creative.

 

Many times,  students do not have time during the week to paint. To practice in the ‘normal’ way. i.e.   getting the paints out.     

 

  • But,  we can still practice art!
  • We can still create art, in many ways.
  • Just looking and observing, is studying.  Yes,  you are studying art!
  • Looking for a focal point, or for tonal contrasts, etc.  It counts as practice.
  • These acts,  accumulate knowledge within, and will be released when you do get to paint.

 

 

Liberal, Relaxed Ideas

By now,  many of you probably know how broad and liberal I am with my art terms, ideas and phrases.

Some of my students in class have a laugh now, when I mention ‘landscapes.’

I raise my brows, as I say,  “If you can see it outside,  go right ahead and paint it.  I consider it Part of The Landscape!”   So whether it is a person’s face, a waterfall, a window, a wild wave crashing, a patio garden… go for it.

 

 

Technically….. that’s not quite spot on.

But, who likes rules all the time?

 

 

 

As the well known artist,  Tony Smibert says,

“There are no rules,  just consequences.”

 

I love that,   don’t you?!!

 

 

Zen Garden  Photograph

When I look at this photo, I become immersed in these lovely tranquil greens. Its another world.

 

I look into the scene and study it for lights and shadows.  I can count about 10 various tonal ranges of greens in the photograph;  this is a helpful thing to do if I was to use this as a reference to paint from.

We need plenty of tones to make a painting successful.

 

I also can see many, many  versions of greens.  We need 5-7 versions of green at a minimum,  for the optimum success of a painting in greens.

 

If using watercolors  then perhaps I might use Perylene green for the deep near black greens I see.

 

Zoisite green, would be perfect for the greyed greens that are in the back and middle ground.   A nice winsor lemon py175 mixed with a tiny bit of prussian blue pb27  would be brilliant for the fresh, light, bright foliage in the front.

 

 

 

Color Burst Watercolor

 

easy watercolor flowers, mixing green foliage leaves, simple watercolor paintings, debi riley art
Watercolor Garden Sunburst colorburst 

 

 

 

Color Burst Watercolor

 

  • Cool and Refreshing, like a lemon twist on a hot day!
  • Tons of sparkle created by liberally leaving lots of Whites on the Paper.
  • A limited palette helps: cobalt teal blue, serpentine, winsor lemon.
  • Clarity of tonal values: Light, Mid and Dark provide visual interest
  • Leaf like and Petal like brush strokes draw the viewer in

 

 

 

Zen Serenity  in the Gardens

 

 

zen garden, calm peaceful greens, debi riley art, Perth flower, debiriley.com
Serenity in the Gardens

 

So soft. So tranquil.

The background in the garden is everything in this photograph.

The soft edges and tonal ranges all unite to gently, bring your eye to the tiny star flower in the foreground.

 

 

Summary Points  

 

  • Many studies have shown, that Creativity and a Relaxed mind are linked together.
  • Gardens are a perfect place to retreat to for some zen relaxation.
  • Time Poor, no Time to Paint?  I can still Create!   Just in a different format.
  • Ideas and Imagination, are a valid creative art form
  • Tony Smibert has brilliant ideas and artwork

 

 

Zen in the Gardens photograph has a delicacy and sensitivity, a story telling quality to it that I find quite enchanting.

If, the photo had been a riot of all colors…. this quality would not have emerged.  The near monochromatic nature of the photo enhanced the image’s content.

 

 

Further Posts you may be interested in

Tony Smibert 

Zen 

Gardens 

Greens 

 

Published by debiriley

The act of creation, in any media is a fascinating and magical process. I simply love to create. Expressing in color, line, tone, texture - as if, they were words upon a page. Creating a uniquely me, interpretation. Enjoy More of my "one-of-a-kind" expressive art at society6.com/debiriley and, redbubble.com/people/debijriley/shop

33 thoughts on “Zen In The Garden”

    1. hehe, having no worries about deadlines and making ends meet would be a fairy tale, I’m sure! there’s always lotto I guess. I can dream though 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Wonderful post Debi, tulips are blooming here and there is a riot of colour to be had. But Zen in the Garden is an excellent reminder to be aware of those opportunities for tonal ranges, play of light and shadow and story telling in our art whatever form it takes.

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    1. hi Susan, I’m so glad I posted this today then! Thank you for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it. And, Welcome to this mixed bag of art posts I’ve created. Cheers, Debi 🙂

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    1. thank you Nico, I’m so glad that this ‘creative’ post went well 🙂 Its nice to know how others are feeling about it too! Cheers, and peaceful good tidings.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I love this post…everything about it speaks so much truth. Creativity isn’t something we do, it’s a part of who we are, and we can express it in many different ways. I love the quote about rules and consequences, and I thank you for the suggestions on greens. I’m discovering for myself how tricky they can be.

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    1. thanks! I’m glad this was helpful to you! Tony Smibert… he’s the man!
      🙂 I do have some other posts on greens too if you wanted to see. I really agree that we can express creativity in a myriad of ways.

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      1. I’ve been having lots of fun with green lately…not! LOL. I have a couple of posts coming up in which I share a few frustrations. I’ll read any advice I can find, so I’ll be browsing your site for information.

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  8. I love your easy to understand lessons and how you help us relate on how to put our daily simple life experience into the canvas. It has help me a lot. Thanks Debi!

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    1. hi Lana! thank you! And I appreciate your letting me your thoughts on the article.
      After so many…. years, I came to the conclusion, art is life and Life is art. And to show others how, I do this.
      I am really glad, that this has been of help to you!!
      🙂 Cheers, Debi

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    1. thank you Sharon!! that is so kind 🙂 I now have my “remodelled” computer, (minus all my backup, hard drive, photos) but having the Mac back is great. I did need a zen hug LOL

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  11. Great post Debi, Greens are difficult to achieve successfully in a painting, especially when portraying Springtime greens (bright kelly greens, yellow greens,et c.). Thank you for your advice – Zen has it!

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  12. Spot on, Debi!! I LOVE your zen in your garden. It refreshes the soul. I also understand about observing because I am always learning something new when I do which then adds to how I capture an image. My eye is drawn to shapes and colors. I also go through phases that I don’t feel like picking up my camera but just getting immersed in what is transpiring. I have been doing that a lot lately … just observing without my camera. Beautiful post, dear friend!! ❤

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