an old silk rose

 

This old silk boutonniere is another saved treasure that was rediscovered as I was clearing out old boxes. Bill wore it at our daughter’s wedding over 22 years ago. When I came across it, I laid it on my dresser next to an antique picture frame and oil lamp . . . . Our black cat, Scotty Dubh, promptly stole it, claiming it as his new toy. I rescued it and now he leaves it alone.

I drew this directly in ink with a fude nib pen, thinking I would keep it loose. But my normal tighter detail style still broke through — perhaps I should just accept that this is “me”. I added a bit of shading with a grey-blue watercolor pencil, kept dry in places and watercolor added over it in others. At least that was simplified . . .

Early this morning I couldn’t sleep. The farm was thickly covered with a blanket of fog, though that didn’t stop the donkeys from calling out their good mornings. I fixed a mug of Earl Grey tea and went out to drink it with them in the north pasture. Very peaceful morning.