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ORIGINAL FLORAL PAINTING: WILD ROSE GARDEN
The Wild Rose Garden is an original floral painting from my series of four works titled Into the Garden.
The Wild Rose Garden is an original floral painting from my series of four works titled Into the Garden. The Wild Rose Garden painting highlights an idyllic overgrown summer rose garden with yardwork in progress. The Into the Garden series includes two original landscape paintings and two floral watercolor paintings.
©2023, Erica MacDonald, Wild Rose Garden. Watercolor and gouache, 8 x 10 inches.
Original Floral Painting: Wild Rose Garden
This watercolor and gouache painting is approximately 8 x 10 inches. It’s painted with professional artist-grade paints on thick 300 lb. archival watercolor paper.
This original landscape has elements of realism such as the main subject of the rose and the wheelbarrow. During the landscape painting process, I decided to paint the other details impressionistically to reduce the visual overwhelm of the leaves, shadows, and overgrowth.
Inspiration: Wild Rose Garden
Roses have been a beloved favorite worldwide and are often included in flower beds due to their popularity. Universally across cultures, roses represent love and passion. Even young children know this.
However, as a contemporary landscape painter, my perspective is that this painting and the inspiration behind it go beyond the rose’s traditional symbolism. What fascinates me about this artwork is the presence of the overgrown grass and the slightly unkempt state of the garden.
Creative Living
I found this scene one hot summer afternoon, outside my father-in-law’s front door. Landscaping is a labor of love for him. But, with his three-acre yard, it is difficult to keep it in a pristine state. No sooner than he completes one landscaping task, another section needs mowing, or one of the flower beds needs his attention.
To me, this painting’s overgrown grass and wheelbarrow symbolize our daily routines in life. As soon as we complete a task there is another one that needs addressed and “checked off the list”.
During the intense summer heat, it seems like the work will never end. Realistically, though, we know that winter will come just as sure as the sun rises and sets.
Winter provides a season of rest.
However, even in winter, we have that nagging thought that spring “will be here soon”. Then, we start the internal planning process of all the springtime work that will need to be done in our gardens, homes, and lives.
I believe that this gardening process is symbolic of the daily grind of our lives. Even at rest, our minds continue to till the soil and plan for the future.
Ultimately, the weeds of life start to disrupt our carefully cultivated garden. So, we dig out the wheelbarrow and start to pull the overgrown weeds because we realize how we progress toward our goals. On an intuitive level, we understand that the journey is about progress over perfection.
Erica MacDonald, Wild Rose Garden. Watercolor and gouache, 8 x 10 inches. 2023
ORIGINAL FLORAL PAINTING: FLOWER AT SUNRISE
Flower at Sunrise is an original floral painting of a purple-pink daffodil from my landscape painting series
Flower at Sunrise is an original floral painting of a purple-pink daffodil from my contemporary landscape painting series Into the Garden. Flower at Sunrise is a watercolor painting that has a lovely impressionist sun-streaked background that seems to make the daffodil glow in the morning light.
This watercolor and gouache original floral painting is approximately 10 x 8 inches. It’s painted with professional artist-grade paints on thick 300 lb. archival watercolor paper.
©2023 Erica MacDonald, Flower at Sunrise. Watercolor, 10 x 8 inches.
Sourcing Creative Inspiration
In Tennessee, daffodils grow in yards and along the roadside. They seem almost commonplace yet special at the same time. They grow in the spring, which is a season that reminds us of rebirth, as we leave the winter behind us. They are often associated with hope and renewal.
From my perspective, daffodils symbolize creative inspiration and excitement with the knowledge that the cold winter is over. They are one of the first things to start to grow in the spring. When you see them, you know winter is coming to an end. They serve as a reminder to appreciate the beauty in the everyday things all around us.
The excitement about the end of winter is creatively inspiring to me because I know that beautiful things happen in the spring like trees blooming and baby animals being born. Personally, my mood improves with more sunlight and the knowledge that winter is over for the next eight months. There’s nothing like sunshine, newborn animals, and flowers blooming in the spring. I hope you enjoy this floral painting as much as I did creating it. Don’t miss out, get on the list!
Erica MacDonald, Flower at Sunrise. Watercolor and gouache, 10 x 8 inches. 2023
INTO THE GARDEN ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING SERIES
I’m excited to introduce my original landscape paintings from the Into the Garden series.
I’m excited to introduce my original landscape paintings from the Into the Garden series. It includes two watercolor landscapes & two watercolor flower paintings. I love to paint travel related art. However, I decided it was time to paint scenes close to my home and heart.
Original Landscape Paintings: Into the Garden
The two contemporary landscape paintings measure 8 x 10 inches and the floral watercolor paintings are 10 x 8 inches. Into the Garden is painted with professional artist-grade lightfast paints on thick 300 lb. archival watercolor paper.
You can check out the Into the Garden original paintings below.
Creative Inspiration
I was inspired to paint scenes outside and near home because I believe that beauty is found in everyday aspects of life. These original landscape paintings offer a glimpse into my life in rural Tennessee.
In Tennessee, we have long hot summer days but the beauty of nature is right outside our door. Landlocked and surrounded by eight other states, the hot summer can seem endless until fall arrives. However, as a reward for the humid summers, we have lovely wildflowers and gardens.
As much as I love to paint travel related art pieces, I think it is important for visual creatives to be mindful as we go through our day. We are so busy in the hustle of our everyday routines and staring at our phones that we can be blind to the beauty of the natural world outside our front door. Ultimately, my creative inspiration behind painting the Into the Garden series is the concept of mindfulness and “finding the beauty in every day”.
Into the Garden original painting series by contemporary artist Erica MacDonald.
DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTING
The original watercolor painting Dunedin Causeway No. 1 is part of my series of travel related art paintings titled
The original watercolor painting Dunedin Causeway No. 1 is part of my series of travel related art paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. This contemporary seascape painting was inspired by the scenic water and foliage views along the Dunedin Causeway as you drive into Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, Florida.
This is an original watercolor painting for sale that measures 6 x 7 inches. It is painted on archival smooth watercolor paper using high-quality professional watercolors.
Creative Inspiration
One of our favorite spots in Florida is Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. This is a scene along the Dunedin Causeway as you drive on the 2-mile bridge onto Honeymoon Island. The bridge is a perfect spot for amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico and is almost a destination spot in itself. You will find bikers, walkers, and people fishing along the bridge at almost any time of the year. People park and picnic in their cars or just sit to take in the view.
After you experience Dunedin Causeway and Honeymoon Island, be sure to head over to Caladesi Island for unspoiled island views. You can view other paintings in the series and learn about the area by reading my travel related art writing.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Dunedin Causeway No. 1. Watercolor, 6 x 7 inches.
DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE PAINTING
Dunedin Causeway No. 2 is a contemporary landscape painting that is part of my collection of six travel and art paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin.
Dunedin Causeway No. 2 is a contemporary landscape painting that is part of my collection of six travel and art paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. This original painting was inspired by the summer foliage and sky views along the Dunedin Causeway as you drive to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, Florida.
This contemporary landscape painting measures 6 x 7 inches and is painted on acid-free Fabriano hotpress watercolor paper using professional watercolors and gouache.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Dunedin Causeway No. 2. Watercolor, 6 x 7 inches.
Creative Inspiration
The Dunedin Causeway is a two-mile-long bridge in Dunedin, Florida leading to Honeymoon Island and is popular with locals and tourists alike. With views of the Gulf of Mexico, this area provides the perfect scenery for traveling artists, photographers, and tourists alike. This bridge is walkable and bikeable. You can chill here before ever stepping foot on the nearby Honeymoon or Caladesi Island.
Dunedin is about a forty-five-minute drive from Tampa and is located next door to Clearwater. You can read more about one of my trips to the area in this article. I’ve been to several places in northern and central Florida. I can tell you that the West Coast is my one of favorite areas in the state. What about you? Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite spot in Florida.
Seascape paintings from abstract impressionist painter Erica MacDonald
THREE ROOKER ISLAND CONTEMPORARY SEASCAPE PAINTING
Three Rooker Island No. 2 is a contemporary seascape painting that is part of my series of six watercolor paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin.
Three Rooker Island No. 2 is a contemporary seascape painting that is part of my series of six watercolor paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. It was inspired by the crashing wave along the beach on the popular Three Rooker Island located near Dunedin, Florida.
This contemporary seascape painting measures 8 x 10 inches and is painted on archival smooth watercolor paper using high-quality professional watercolors and gouache.
Creative Inspiration
I discovered a goldmine of creative inspiration near Dunedin at Three Rooker Island, a beautiful barrier island to the north of Dunedin. On our midweek visit, we enjoyed the island's beauty without anyone else but us on this tiny island.
We took many pictures for painting references to use back in the art studio. It was a surreal feeling to be on a small island without anyone else around. However, towards the end, another boat showed up with a few people. Be sure to read more about this visit to Dunedin here which was my inspiration for the travel paintings in the series.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Three Rooker Island No. 2. Watercolor and gouache, 8 x 10 inches.
FLORIDA’S THREE ROOKER ISLAND ORIGINAL OCEAN PAINTING
Three Rooker Island No. 1 is an original ocean painting that is part of my series of contemporary seascape paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin.
Three Rooker Island No. 1 is an original ocean painting that is part of my series of contemporary seascape paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. Three Rooker Island is north of Dunedin, Florida, and is popular with locals and travelers alike. Go during a slow season and you might get to experience this sandbar island all by yourself.
This ocean painting measures 8 x 10 inches and is painted on archival smooth watercolor paper using high-quality professional watercolors and gouache.
Creative Inspiration
Traveling artists and photographers would love the little barrier Three Rooker Island that lies to the north of Dunedin, Florida. If you are lucky you just might get to experience this amazing sandbar island without anyone around like we did. Of all the reference photographs we took, this view was one of my favorites. No painting or photograph could capture the beauty of seeing it in real life. Honestly, it is a surreal feeling to go to this spot and get a chance to experience it by yourself. Don’t make that your goal though because it’s popular with tourists and locals alike.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Three Rooker Island No. 1. Watercolor and gouache, 8 x 10 inches.
HONEYMOON ISLAND NO. 2 TRAVEL ART PAINTING
Honeymoon Island No. 2 is a travel art painting part that is of my series of six watercolor landscape and seascape paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin.
Honeymoon Island No. 2 is a travel art painting part that is of my series of six watercolor landscape and seascape paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. Honeymoon Island State Park is a great place to explore and is located on Florida’s Suncoast. White sand beaches, beautiful sunsets, and wildlife characterize this popular travel destination.
This travel art painting measures 8 x 10 inches and is painted on acid-free Fabriano hotpress watercolor paper using professional watercolors and gouache.
Creative Inspiration
If you like clear water and white sand, you will love Honeymoon Island along the Gulf of Mexico. A short drive from Tampa, Honeymoon Island State Park is a popular family-friendly spot for activities like:
Swimming
Fishing
Kayaking and canoeing
Hiking and biking on the park's trails
From my perspective, the great thing about this small island is it is not your typical straight-line Florida beach. There is an area of the island that is rocky on the south end. Also, the hiking trails and vegetation in this area are different than the average Florida beach. There are many species of birds and other wildlife to inspire bird watchers, photographers, and visual artists creating travel related art.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Honeymoon Island No. 2. Watercolor and gouache, 8 x 10 inches.
HONEYMOON ISLAND ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING
The original landscape painting Honeymoon Island No. 1 is part of my series of six watercolor landscape paintings
The original landscape painting Honeymoon Island No. 1 is part of my series of six watercolor seascape paintings titled Summer Escape: Dunedin. A popular adventure spot forty minutes outside of Tampa, the lush landscape of Florida’s Honeymoon Island is beautiful with four miles of unspoiled beaches, wildlife, and three walking trails.
This contemporary landscape painting measures 6 x 7 inches and is painted on archival smooth watercolor paper using premium watercolors. You can see other paintings in the series.
Creative Inspiration
You drive into Honeymoon Island via the Dunedin Causeway which is a two-mile bridge that ends at the island. Once you get to this state park you have many activities to choose from like swimming, fishing, or hiking. If you are going with creative aspirations like photography or painting, you might want to go in the winter, on a weekday, when there are only a few people there. But, if you want a traditional summer beach vibe with white sand and clear waters go in the summer. Be prepared, it’s a popular place during the summer season. It’s mostly families on vacation and locals that will be there, so it has a friendly feel. You can read more about the island and the area here.
©2022 Erica MacDonald, Honeymoon Island No. 1. Watercolor, 6 x 7 inches.