Pulling Earth #26
Warmth and tulips
The cool is lifting. And with the warmer weather smells of soil and grass abound. It reminds me of high school rugby season. We would start conditioning once we returned from March break with several kilometre runs from school, to the lake and back. Today has a similar feel. Melting snow, mostly overcast. I have taken the day off and it feels like a Saturday. We are at the farm and my father has joined us for the day. He brought tulips.
We talk and walk. Discussing home improvements and water issues, all while attempting to avoid the soggy grass puddles and the remaining piles of snow.
In the evening I sit down to draw the opening tulips. Each bloom has just a few simple petals, but when you look close they’re actually quite complex. At first I outline the rough shape, then add in a first pass with shading. I repeat the process several times. I deepen my breathing to try to capture the scent, but the delicate fragrance is too subtle. I have to ram my face into it! I ask Violet to take a whiff. “How would you describe the scent?” “Earthy,” she says. Fitting.