This is my 1565th painting the 160th Painting from the Nature


 This is my 9th sketch creation in Wuxi in Spring 2023. Based on the study of the famous plum blossom works of the Song (960 -1279）, Yuan（1271 - 1368）, Ming（1368 - 1644）, and Qing（1616 - 1912) dynasties, I reorganized the first sketch of a bird that I saw in my first painting from the nature on January 10th.

Unfortunately, the rain in Jiangnan wass continuous, and I couldn't go out to sketch for several days. However, it happened to give me a good opportunity to focus on the studying and observing those flowers I had purchased online.

One of my reading experiences is that it seems like I have not truely matered what I had read yet so that I have not noticed so many details and useful things. Then this also reminded me to study more seriously.

It is interesting to see two types of Lamei （winter sweet， chimonanthus fragrans; Japan allspice; calycanthus praecox） in the sketch, whose flower buds have almost the same shape and color, and when they bloom, they do not have the linear stamens of typical plum blossoms. One type of flower has a lantern shaped bottom with 5 circular petals, and the bracts and petals are all vine yellow, looking plump and cute; Another type of flower has a base similar to that of a regular plum blossom, with 7 or 8 olive shaped petals that resemble a daisy in overall shape. The bracts are vine yellow, and after opening, the outer petals and stamens are milky white, while the middle layer is rouge colored

I prefer the first type, so I have never sketched the second type outdoors. However, upon seeing the two types of flowers purchased by mail, they transformed from ochre colored sprouts to vine yellow flower buds, and then both bloomed into the appearance of the second type of flower. I couldn't help smiling at themselves: it was simply God helping me to correct my sketching preferences.

So, my little painting also unconsciously became the second type with the changes in the Lamei at home.

Anyway, the feeling now is a bit childish.Right?

Do you like this small painting?

Sincerely hope to receive your comments and guidance.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to info@ebridge.cn. :-)

--Shirley Yiping Zhang
Edited on Dec 25, 2023; written on Feb 4, 2023