Monday, September 5, 2011

Wisteria - Duke Gardens

We had a relatively dry, cool day right after Hurricane Irene had passed NC, and we went that morning to Duke Gardens. Dearest and Oldest took photos, youngest stayed with me and read a book, and I drew. Initially I settled down to sketch the light on bushes and plants in the terraced garden, but it bored me after 10 minutes and I walked away. In the wisteria gazebo there are open-work steel columns made so the vines can grow through and up. The vines and leaves completely cover the roof of the large gazebo, one of the most recognizable landmarks on Duke's campus, and the ancient vines make quite a show in the columns, as well. So I found a dual page in my home-made bound journal of watercolor scraps (cut from dozens of paintings) and I did this study. Two colors of ink, graphite, and a little green Prismacolor. About 18 by 7 inches. Click image for a larger view.


6 comments:

lisahgolden said...

Look at those intricacies! At our old house, I used to stand on the back porch and run my finger over the twisting wisteria vines while I talked on the phone. I loved that plant.

Odd Chick said...

Love this drawing- the twisted and the straight drafted so beautifully! Still inspiring me!

Phoenix Berries said...

I recognize that vine! Lovely, and I love that you have a way to reuse watercolor paper scraps (besides the beautiful CD covers you made with them before).

L'Adelaide said...

strangely, i always wondered what you did with those pieces of precious paper!

how glorious is this... the wisteria is a fascinating and tenacious old woman of a plant...we have one here that is probably as old as dirt, perhaps 150 years old..it was huge when it was on the old homestead! and still is grows, loving the fields and walnut tree-i wonder about walnut tree, if she(wisteria) doesn't put some fear into him! ;)

you have done this so magically, i imagine it's beautiful in person. have a good day and i am glad you didn't get flooded...never can trust the news anymore to tell the truth about the weather--or much else for that matter...

L'Adelaide said...

apologies for the loooong comment but~~~~ ;)

susan said...

There's just something incredibly civilized about the combination of architecture and climbing plants. You've captured both beautifully with this one.