The Charm of Wisteria

Wisteria seems to grow well in the Geneva area and surrounds. It adorns many homes, providing color, beauty and shade.









Wisteria in the Parc des Bastions in Geneva, Switzerland, makes this wall even more interesting.





The way the vines spread out enhances the flowing shape and accessibility of the flowers.









The purple flowers hang like bunches of sparkling grapes.




















In Annecy, France, there is a magnificent white wisteria vine on one of the buildings along the canal.








Looking at it from the other side you can see that it has grown up three balcony levels.





















It's massive with flowers covering the wall almost entirely.











It gives the same fairy-like quality that Art Nouveau can give. I love the way the reflections of the water from the canal play with the white flowers.
The trunk almost gives the impression of having a living being hidden within it, perhaps a fairy that emerges when we're not looking. Whatever, it certainly has character and seems to speak of something old.


The vines knot together, making it appear to be one whole trunk.










Looking up through the blossoms gives the ultimate view of its delicate finery.

Amazing Geneva Flowerbeds, Switzerland

The flowerbeds in Geneva are incredible displays.












You can see row after row of flowers walking down the promenade along the Lac Leman.






There are many colors: yellow...













...red...













and even purple.



Looking closer at the flowers shows the detail in arrangement is carefully considered.










Each individual flower gives an even greater sense of wonder.

At first sight just an overall stream of the primary color in the flowerbed is seen. But in fact there are many other colors dotted around in them.













The insides of flowers also offer an amazing variety of colors and patterns.










It's like looking at a flower arrangement you might see on a magnificent, luxurious dinner table - well, maybe that'd be more convincing if you can imagine these in a vase.The texture and color variations seen in the flowers close up is exquisite. On perhaps a more practical note: it's very striking that there aren't any insects to be seen on these flowers. In the mountains I've been fascinated to see hordes of insects everywhere and it's almost impossible to take a photo of a flower without at least finding one insect, if not many.
This flower looks like it's made out of crepe paper. The minute details in every flower shows how much wonder there is to be found in even a small object.

In the background is the promenade and in the distance can be seen moored yachts and the Geneva town-front.














Mixed in with the taller flowers are arrays of small and yet very beautiful flowers.
















Landscape artists must have so much to think about when they arrange their plants - height, color, patterns, variation. And then I guess they have to consider how it will change with time of its own accord.




Looking out over the tops of the flowerbeds...


















...there is the expanse of the lake.
Looking back towards the street hotels and apartments can be seen.







The flowers stand proudly against a backdrop of the town...
...drawing the eye along the lines of their beauty.

Egg Tempera Painting Of Sweet Williams

This is the egg tempera painting of Sweet Williams that I completed last week. It's approximately 12 x 5 inches.


Egg tempera paint dries almost as soon as it's applied, so many short paintbrush strokes are needed to make up the picture. In addition, if it is left too thick, egg cracks when it dries, which means that the paint must be applied in thin layers to avoid cracking of the painting.

Egg is transparent, allowing light to enter the different layers of paint and be reflected back again, giving the painting greater depth and sparkle. Almost like a jewel, the picture becomes more brilliant as more layers are added, giving it more facets for light to play on. This does mean that painting with egg tempera is a time-consuming process, making larger ones that much more challenging - but it's well worth it.I'm working on a beach scene now, which is 20 x 15 inches.