For the first time ever, I’m planting peonies, dahlias and lilacs in my gardens. Living in a mountain climate is definitely on the chilly side, so I’m hoping the payoff will be some extraordinary blossoms in our late springtime. Being an artist gives me lots of excuses to spend money at the local nurseries, support small business in Colorado Springs, and recruit new studio models to preen and pose under the spotlights. But I’m also learning so much, and embracing something new and exciting.
My trial garden is a series of pots in our sunny guest bedroom, filled with seedlings that I will transplant outdoors in 2 weeks. In addition to my old standby favorites, morning glories and sunflowers, I’m test driving dinner plate dahlias, four varieties of peony bushes and clematis. Most of the small plants started from seeds are in plastic cups filled with potting soil. The air is dry here, so I give them the fingertip test to ensure they have plenty of water every day.
Every new blossom is an idea for a painting or a combination of elements of color and shape. Here’s how I create an inspiration for my paintings, using photos from my home grown sprouts and blossoms and my trips to beautiful gardens around the world. One of the easiest ways to find joyful color that speaks to your heart, is to merge photos you love together in Powerpoint. Here’s how to do that, step by step. (I’m using an IMac, so some of these steps may change depending on what type of computer you use. Keep in mind all of the images you use need to be photos you’ve taken, or for which you have permission to use.)
Create a Custom Garden, Step by Step
New online lessons are blooming!
Start painting with me right away in The Joyful Brush, my monthly online class. Find out why hundreds of students from around the world have already joined the flower family, with weekly live videos, live paintings, and a library filled with full-length lessons waiting for you as soon as you arrive. Get all the color you love, and a beautiful place to grow through all the seasons of your art journey.
I want more Joy in my studio!
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Thanks Nancy,
How cool is that!
It is true; you learn something new everyday.
You are so right Sharon! : )
hi Nancy!
Thanks for this tip!!! I can’t wait to try it…hopefully a little later…to see if I can get this correct. It would be such a help as I am often trying to merge various photos in Photoshop to get an unique scene which I can paint. It usually takes so much time and when I’m done, I’m still filling in the “blanks” and using my imagination. Hopefully this will go well and I will have a tool I can use. I appreciate you sharing this with us.
Joanne
Joanne you are most welcome! It took me quite a while to figure out some of these things and then, of course, Powerpoint upgraded and I had to find the tools all over again! : )
I love this!!!! Sooooo helpful …. I have an IMac…… so all I need is Power Point on my computer???
Hi Erik! Absolutely – you may have to purchase an Microsoft package that includes Word and Excel and Powerpoint together, though, I’m not sure if they parse that out. Enjoy!