NaPoWriMo 2023 Day 20

Yes today is 4/20. Yes today is the twentieth day of a month of poems and paints. Today it was hot. When I sat outside to paint the small biting flies were pestering me. I went to visit Mom and the cats and had a lovely dinner.

From the edges
Spring grass comes into its green
so suddenly

today wild cherries
low flying clouds against
the greening hills

the weediest tree
today flaunts her yellow-green
bright tasseled earrings

NaPoWriMo 2023 Day 20

Painting while Poem-ing

Yesterday was Day 19 of 19 of doing at least one watercolor each day during National Poetry Writing Month and I’m sticking with it. When doing a month-long writing thing, I have found it nearly impossible to paint so that was my resolution for April, even if it made both things rocky.

Last night I really didn’t have an idea about what to paint so I impulsively chose a photo I’d just taken of the one spot of bluebells that blooms so briefly in the garden. It had been too cold to paint outside in the afternoon. The garden is full of daffodil leaves and daffodil flowers which are starting to go past. The day lilies and hostas are turning into clumps of leaves.

The result isn’t the best work of the month but while painting I was thinking of one of my earliest teachers who taught me about “juicy” watercolor and negative painting. So yes it was messy – just like the scene – but I am having a real moment of gratitude for my teacher Fred Lisaius and my other teachers Tony Conner and Robert H. LaFond and will endeavor on.

One piece of paper at a time!

Painting while Poem-ing