Poppies

January has been the month of poppies for me. I started out with prickly poppies. For these, I drove about an hour towards the desert (last summer). Just beyond where land is being developed into suburban neighborhoods with Kentucky bluegrass lawn. I brought two of my kids with me to hunt lizards, look for cool rocks, and splash in the pond.

I went looking for two things, Prickly Poppies, and Prickly Pears. I found both. I sat on the ground sketching, color matching, and photographing as my kids explored the desert. It was a good day.

The second Poppy painting has been waiting months to be completed as well. I drove to St George, Utah to find the endangered Dwarf Bear Poppy last May. It has been patiently waiting for me. My husband asked me every other month if I had finished it yet. I think he was excited to see it finished. I am particularly proud of this one. I hope to paint many more rare and endangered plants.

I went there looking for this plant, and ended up painting another illustration from this visit. I painted the soil that this poppy grows in. It is a very specific soil. The gypsum rich biologic soil crust was a fun project. I entered it into the ASBA’s lichen and fungi themed exhibition, and was accepted! It will be in a traveling exhibit starting at the New York Botanic Gardens, and will go to Tucson, AZ. You can see this painting here.