Every year I look forward to iris season in the Skagit Valley and schedule a very special day to paint the irises in my friend Kitty’s gardens on Samish Island. This year when Kitty announced the early blooms were ready, my schedule was too harried and I had to postpone my visit to late May. I worried I would miss this season’s spectacle. I don’t think I’ve ever gone up there this late in the iris season, but it turned out that good things happen to those who wait. Kitty’s irises were absolutely stunning — bountiful and colorful and glorious.
I took way too many photos again this year. The many varieties of iris flaunt their frills and flounces and colors like so many ladies at a fancy ball. Each individual flower or small grouping called out to be photographed. I obliged. I knew I would have quite a big editing and uploading job when I returned home! But it was worth it.
I struggled a bit to find a new perspective, a new point of view, amidst all this clamor. At one point I lay on the ground looking up — a worm’s eye view — to see the flowers against the blue sky.
This year I was also pleased to play and experiment with painting irises using a flat brush. I tried to apply some of the practices I started at Tom Hoffmann’s Palouse watercolor workshop — moving toward more abstract shapes. Here are the results:
Rosemary Washington: Chapter Two 
Hi Rosemary, I loved your Palouse paintings! And now the iris.
I’m putting together a pack of photos of iris paintings by Sketchers to send to Kitty as a thank you. Want to send me one and I’ll include yours too? Some people are having me include a note on the back along with their names, of course.
Hope I’ll see you soon. Mary
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This is a neat technique! I do not recall seeing it before. I think I like them both.
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oops, both methods, your ‘normal’ way and this one
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This is definitely a new look for you. It is so incredible how much there is to learn about creating art. One change can take you in an entirely new direction.
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