Wednesday 11 August 2010

Nature's Artistry

I found these poppy seed heads in my garden yesterday and photographed them on some of my inky-splattered paper. They are so sculptural - like little minarets.

Couldn't resist altering the colours in Photoshop......
..........and fiddling with some layers.

Now they're making me think of strange writing implements!
Hoping to use these as inspiration for a fabric collage/embroidery.

I'm a little obsessed with hydrangeas at the moment and bought another one today to add to my collection.
Such gorgeous colour variations all on the same plant - and each separate flower is different; ranging from 3 to 5 petals. These are being pressed for future fabric and paper collages.

And finally..... I'm rather impressed by the way a branch of our clematis has decided to attach itself to the back of the garden seat. Nature's artistry eh?

(click for a closer view)

42 comments:

Sandy said...

WOW !!!! Your art is really special and absolutely unique. So wonderful work with the nature. Awesome. Hugs.

Jaqi said...

How beautiful, and Hydrangeas are my favourite flower, I adore them. I used to stand them in Glycerine and dry them and make garlands of them they are so beautiful. You are very lucky to have such a lovely garden.
Cant wait to see what you make with these , I bet its something stunning.
Have a lovely weekend, and thanks for sharing these lovely pictures

Marigold Jam said...

Can't wait to see what you produce using these lovely photos as your source of inspiration. Lovely colours.

Jane

Ellie Knol said...

Beautiful! I really like the colors!

Heather said...

Those poppy seed heads are so unusual Linda and I love what you have done with them. The hydrangeas are gorgeous - wonderful colours. I thought they always had 4 petals. Your garden seat is just right for the clematis to arrange itself among the metal scrolls.

Janet Ghio said...

The poppy parts are great and look wonderful in all the different colors and the hydrangeas-love the colors.

Caterina Giglio said...

gorgeous garden seat, no wonder the clematis has decided to lean on it!! and I agree hydrangeas are the best, so showy and yet so simple!!

Diane said...

All of these photos--very, very cool!

peggy gatto said...

I so enjoyed my morning visit with you and you flowers!
thanks!

Godelieve said...

Wow, I love what you do with photos!!

Angela Smith said...

Love those magnificent poppy heads. Strangely the large masses of hydrangeas flowers don't excite me that much but as separate little flowers they are really quite lovely. love your bench, I want one!

Nancy said...

I love what you did with the poppy seed heads...that is so cool....and the way you altered them in photoshop. They would make great journal pages....

Great imagination you have.....just goes to show you, material is all around us.....

Lyn said...

What a good idea. Our beautiful Hydrangea bush is soon to be cut back ready for building works so I might have to press some of the flowers-who knows where they may end up!
love
Lyn
xxx

Netty said...

Wow those poppy heads are gorgeous. Love what you have done with them. Can't wait to see the next chapter with these Linda.
Annette x

Lynn said...

I miss having my flowers sooooo much, especially my hydrangea's. Is that Nikon Blue you have? Mine always turned pink and someone told me it is the soil they are in. I love them :)
I also love what you did with your poppy flower heads, I have never seen them look sooooooo beautiful :)

Anonymous said...

The poppy seed heads make me think of a collecton of magic wands, and they sure are magic in your hands....
xox Corrine

Cynthia Schelzig said...

These seed heads you found in your garden are so unusual looking and what you did with them and your fotos is wonderful!! I just had a short look at your blog...wonderful and inspiring posts...I look forward to reading more.
Cynthia Schelzig....Cynnie

Holly Loves Art said...

They are gorgeous! I love how you saw them and knew you wanted them for ART! I just love all the purples... so cheery and beautiful. I like the idea of using them as little magic wands! ha!
Have a great day.
Holly

Mescrap said...

Really beautiful !!
You are surrounding with all the beauties.

StephanieTJLee said...

I love how you created such beautiful photos from poppy seed heads. Wonderful blog! I am now following for more!

http://tingjunglee.blogspot.com/

Rika said...

Fantastic pictures, I love it, it's beautiful!

Shashi Nayagam said...

You come up with such great inspirational ideas and I love them.
I love Clemetis and the way they tend to have a mind of their own.

Maggi said...

Really unusual to see these elongated poppy seedheads and I love what you have done with them. I really should think about getting an hydrangea as that is all my neighbour grows in his garden so I know the conditions would be suitable and they are such a wonderful resource, as you have shown.

Lori Saul said...

I love how you found beauty in naure and enhanced it with your lovely papers. There is so much in the natural world to inspire our art if we only look for it. Lovely post Linda!

Bunty said...

What a great idea! I collect seed heads and press flowers and it never occurred to me to photgraph them against my own backgrounds and then digitally alter them! Thank you for the inspiration Linda (I must be rather dense!).

I love what you have done with your poppy heads - the results are stunning. I love hydrangeas too, though I usually collect the dried flower petals for my artwork but it's a good idea to press them. I have used quite a few pressed flowers in my journal pages for Carole's class.

Love the clematis on the garden seat!

Barbara

Julie said...

We have two hydrangeas but they're both pink as we don't feed them any of that stuff that send them blue here. The flowers look beautiful in their pressed state. Your clematis bench looks very pretty and I love the poppy seed heads.

Terri said...

Look at this genius art you have created! You always totally amaze me. I am so thrilled to stop by and see what you are up to.
You inspire me : )
Hugs,
Terri

Li Ferreira Nhan said...

Your blog is a real source of inexhaustible wonders!
Lovely, charming and full of details!
I loved "Grace" and "Madame Butterfly"!
I really enjoyed!
Nice to know,
Greetings from Brazil,
li

Rosie said...

Oh my just gorgeous - I love hydrangeas too, and we saw some BRIGHT PINK ones in Italy! The picture of your garden seat made me want to sit there ...

Catharina Maria said...

This are very special photo's of your poppy seeds .
The colors are beautiful and I also love hydrangeas , we dont have a big garden so we have only two .

Love from ♥RINI♥

Judy S. said...

Fun! Those sure don't look like the poppyseeds on poppyseed rolls!
Is that a fall-blooming clematis? If so, ours is quite behind yours....

BumbleVee said...

aren't they the strangest little things... and love the look of them with colour.... the photos of them could be lovely cards...

Jacky said...

Love those little seed heads (*minarets*, I like that). The look great on your ink spattered paper and when you have photoshopped them.
Quite an array of hydrangea's you have there. One of my favourites too (but do need lots of water, so dont do too well in my garden in summer).

Beautiful as always Linda,

Jacky xox

Mary S. Hunt said...

firstly! you have a gorgeous garden!
this must be a european thing
i see nothing but
gorgeous gardens from across the big pond
and you just keep getting better and better with your magical digital prowess
your piece is strong and soft at the same time
beautiful

~*~Patty S said...

ooo what gorgeous kind of poppy makes that kind of seed head I am wondering ... not seen any long like that before and what you have done with them is pure magic ... there is so much architecture in nature ... I am lusting after your pretty hydrangea blooms too!
one might want to be careful not to linger too long on your lovely bench ... clematis and other vines grow so quickly ;)... absolutely perfect touch of nature!
you two get along quite well together dear Linda!
Happy Weekend to you and yours
oxo

*jean* said...

oo linda, your garden pics and journal are just scrumptuous!! i came home and found that my favorite hydrangeas now have a very dark pink flecked with green hue...they are amazing and i love them pressed...i visited your other posts and that journal and your lovely digital work are wonderful...simply wonderful...

happy belated birthday!

*j*

Gini said...

Love what you have done with the seed heads in photoshop although nature hadn't done too badly either :-)
Your garden looks gorgeous and a lovely place to contemplate ones own naval or in fact anyones naval.
Gini
xx

Yasmin said...

Magnificent collection... I like colors a lot... leaning that are very elegant.
And that wonderful garden you have.!!!
Have a my beautiful weekend dear friend.,
xoxo
Yasmin

LazyKay said...

Beautiful, there's a lot to be said for taking time to stop and smell (or photograph) the flowers.

Nature's really an inspiration.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Morna Crites-Moore said...

What a lovely poppy seed head photo. I am charmed by it. :-)

Dot said...

Lovely to read so many comments above my lovely friend! You are a digital queen and I love the poppy seed head photo's. They would look beautiful on cards. And your latest Hydrangea is gorgeous. Perfect colors for you.
Your clematis is obviously very artistic itself with the way it is entwining your garden seat :).
Gorgeous post my friend.
Dot xx
P.S As I am typing this Ronnie is sitting next to me on the couch snoring away he hee.

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

Oh stop stop...I can't take in any more incredible inspiration, I'm fit to burst- every image and post is just everything I love to bits!! You know when you discover a shop and it sells all fabulous stuff and you go from shelf to stand going oooooo and ahhhhhhh...well thats what I'm like every time I visit your blog rofl I think what I'll do is set a day or two aside for a lonnnnnnng read.

Be filled with Wonder and Peace.....and Cosiness

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