Yellow!

Here is a drawing I did in 2004 of a daffodil. It was back when lots of botanical drawings filled my sketchbooks.

No matter what the weather is like at this time of the year, seeing the blast of yellow made by a garden full of daffodils at least makes it seem like the sun is shinning. And today, especially after the wind came out and the clouds rolled in, the daffodils by my front door were a sunny sight.

Today dawned sunny but brisk (47 degrees Farenheit) for the annual Governor's Fishing Opener. It was a history-setting day in Minnesota because, instead of being at a northern lake, The Opener was right here, for the first time ever, in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. And, wonder of wonders, of all the lakes in the metro area, it was right here in my home town of White Bear Lake. What's the big deal? Fishing is big stuff in Minnesota and the walleye (our state fish!) brings in welcome tourist dollars to our fair state. Besides, it gives the Governor a chance to flee the Capitol during the end-of-the-legislative-session defugilties about the state budget.

I'm not a fisherman and will probably never be one. Instead I go along with my fly-fishing husband and paint and draw while he casts his line. The bonus for me is to go to all the gorgeous places where the fish hang out. We don't eat the trout he catches--those are carefully set back in the water. A true catch-and-release-trout man, he even kisses the first one of the season before he puts it back. True confessions here: He also fishes for my favorite fish, walleye. Those he brings home. Those we eat. (Another bonus.)

I digress from "Yellow." But the Fishing Opener reminded me that I was glad I was not on the lake today--too cold. Instead I enjoyed the daffodils.

New Class Added

Above: Fishing the Gallatin, © Diane Wesman, approx. 8 x 12". Pastel on Canson Mi Tientes Paper.

Past students have asked for another pastel class at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. So now we have one: Tuesdays, from April 21 to May 26, 6:30 to 9 p.m. We will meet to work in the luscious medium of pastel. This will be an intermediate class for those who have taken a pastel class from me or for anyone who has some experience working with soft chalk pastels.

Use the link to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory to sign up.

When the weather permits we will work outside. For those who would like to start landscape painting, they will have that option. Others may choose to stick with painting their favorite plants and that is OK, too.

Fishing the Gallatin, above, like many of my paintings, was done while my husband was fly fishing. Here I used Rembrandt pastels. They are the real work horses in my pastel collection. They travel well, are widely available and economically priced.

We won't have this stunning vista but we will have Como Park! I hope you will join me to explore the wonderful possibilities of pastel.