The last two sketches from our August beach vacation …
Several times a day, I took the meandering path from our house, through the dunes, to the beach, and each time I admired the colorful red and yellow blooms of the sturdy gaillardia growing in the hot, dry sand. Finally, with our vacation drawing to a close, I stopped on my way home for lunch one day, unfolded my beach chair, and sat down to sketch one of the bushy little plants.
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| Gaillardia, related to the sunflower, is also known as “Blanket Flower” |
The sun was beating down, so I drew quickly, putting the main blooms
in place, then began to sketch the leaves.
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| Detail |
Just then, I realized that
something was crawling up my bare legs … actually, more like twenty
“somethings”!
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There were ants heading for my knees, and more of them
trailing up and into my tote bag. I furiously began brushing them off,
while trying not to drop my sketchbook and fountain pen in the sand. Resolutely, I pulled my feet up onto the chair and added a few more
leaves to the drawing, pausing frequently to brush away more ants who
had determinedly scaled the chair legs. Finally, I gave up, packed up, and
scurried down the path, leaving the gaillardia to their six-legged
friends.
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Suddenly, it was Friday – time to pack up the boogie boards and sand buckets and prepare for the 11-hour drive home the next day.
That bittersweet last evening at the beach came all too soon. I’m never ready for my beach week to end. As we took one last sunset walk, I snapped a photo of my daughter and her husband strolling along, hand in hand, with the colorful sky reflected in the waves and on the glistening wet sand.
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| 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ Drawn with Noodler’s Flex pen & Lexington Gray ink, with added watercolor and white gel pen |
I painted the sketch later at home, and every time I look at, I feel a measure of the same peace and contentment that seven days of sand, water, wind, and waves bring to me.
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4 Comments
I love gaillardia, and your sketch of them is gorgeous. All that's missing is the ants! LOL!! But seriously, it is the state wildflower of Oklahoma, where I live. I've also heard it called Indian Blanket. Your sketch of the sunset with your daughter and son in law is also wonderful. Sounds like you had a fabulous time away. The end of a vacation is always a bittersweet time – sad to leave a place you love but good to go home too.
I'm so pleased I found you. Your daily sketchs from your holiday are wonderful. I loved the added info about the ants, I almost thought I was going to see a sketch of the ants crawling on you. I love the one of your daughter hand in hand with her husband stroling along the beach, what a lovely moment to capture & sketch.
Isn't time at the beach the best therapy? It just washes away all of life's dirt. I love this painting of your daughter and son-in-law. It says it all.
Beautiful images from your vacation – what a great way to 'bring some of it home' so you can continue to enjoy it. I really loved the lovely sunset image of your daughter and son-in-law – it radiates "love".