People who garden, grow flowers, style flowers, and make art of any kind know that color is a complex idea. Having said that, a lot of us have trouble describing certain colors, so we use “color shorthand” to talk about flowers and our work.
If you want to do something every day for “100 days,” you can do Color in and Out of the Garden (Lorene Edwards Forkner, Abrams, $24 99) was born. For Lorene, doing this every day for just a few minutes has turned into a way to calm down and learn to see.
Take the elusive blue blossom. In particular, examine the ‘Mistral Blu’ poppy anemone. It is so much more than just BLUE. It is cobalt, denim, borage, sky, midnight, and larkspur. There’s even a gentle wash of olive from the stem on Lorene’s color card. You may have used sapphire, azure, or lapis. What do you see?.
Or maybe you have been lured by lilac? Confession: the smell always calls me. The colors may be lilac, lavender, rose, purple, mauve, amethyst, or violet. Whatever you call it, you will know if from memory.
The words, color washes, and associations are illuminating. The process of truly seeing allows us to tease out the myriad of color threads in each object. Attention allows deeper inspection and retrospection. There were many shades of color that Georgia O’Keefe noticed: “In a way—nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small—we haven’t time—and to see takes time, like having a friend takes time.” ”.
With each page turn, this book can make you gasp with joy and wonder, as if you were seeing each flower, petal, leaf, branch, shell, or stone for the very first time. You might notice that your eyes keep moving from the paint sample to each color on the page. You may be surprised how much you can see when you meditate on a single blossom.
As a passionate gardener and nature lover I’m always looking for ways to find inspiration and creativity through my interactions with the natural world. Recently I discovered an amazing new book called “Color In and Out of the Garden” by Lorene Edwards Forkner that has truly opened my eyes to seeing and appreciating color in nature in a whole new light.
In this beautifully illustrated guide, Forkner shares her simple techniques for capturing the vibrant hues found in gardens and nature through watercolor painting. But this book is about so much more than just painting. It’s a mindful invitation to slow down and truly observe the subtle details and varied palette of the plants and landscapes that surround us each day.
An Enchanting Exploration Of Color
Forkner arranges the book by color, with chapters focused on shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown and white. Each chapter includes a selection of her delicate watercolor studies depicting flowers, fruits, vegetables, leaves and other natural objects in the spotlighted hue.
Through these tranquil paintings, Forkner teaches readers how to train their eyes to notice subtle gradations of color we often overlook. For example, in the chapter on greens, she showcases the multitude of strikingly different shades present in zucchini leaves, fern fronds, cucumber vines, hosta leaves and more. Who knew green could have so many captivating variations?
In addition to the colorful artwork, the pages are adorned with Forkner’s heartfelt musings on the plants profiled, along with inspirational prompts designed to spur the reader’s own creativity. It’s a delightful mingling of art, gardening and mindfulness.
Cultivating Creativity Through Color
While many of us may not consider ourselves artists, Forkner emphasizes that simply taking time to intentionally observe and appreciate the colors around us can be a meditative and fulfilling creative practice. She shares how developing her daily ritual of noticing and recording colors through quick watercolor studies provided comfort and inspiration during difficult times in her life.
Forkner provides helpful tips for beginners on getting started with basic watercolor techniques, demystifying the process so anyone can give it a try. The book also includes handy color mixing guides with recipes for blending the featured shades.
For me, Forkner’s book has served as a powerful reminder to pause and take in the beauty right under my nose that I often overlook in my garden. Now I find myself noticing the striking carmine red of a camellia bloom or lime green buds emerging on a hellebore plant in a way I never did before. My time working amidst the plants feels more creative and centering.
Finding Mindfulness In The Garden
In addition to the emphasis on color, I love how Forkner weaves in gardening tips throughout, profiling easy-care plants that bring long-lasting joy through their foliage and flowers. As a fellow passionate gardener, her contagious enthusiasm for plants from fuschia bee balm to electric blue globe thistles is right up my alley.
The book inspires me to pay closer attention to color combinations and utilize plants with dynamic hues when designing my garden beds and containers. Forkner offers sage advice on gardening as a mindfulness practice, from growing plants “just because they bring you delight” to focusing on the journey rather than perfection. Her words are a much-needed reminder for me to let go of comparisons and instead celebrate the natural beauty unique to my garden.
Whether you’re an artist looking to hone your color observation skills, a gardener seeking inspiration, or simply someone hoping to cultivate more mindfulness in your life, I can’t recommend “Color In and Out of The Garden” enough. It’s a refreshing invitation to pause and see the world through a more creative and appreciative lens.
Praise For This “Gem Of A Book”
It’s clear I’m not alone in my adoration of this unique book. Here’s just a sampling of the rave reviews “Color In and Out of the Garden” has garnered:
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“Color In and Out of the Garden pays homage to plants and processes, to seeing and believing in small acts of creativity as a means connecting to ourselves and the natural world. A gem of a book.” —Christin Geall, author of Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style
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“Lorene Edwards Forkner’s Color In and Out of the Garden is a gentle call to attention, ‘looking in and looking out.’ Open it anywhere to find yourself transported to the lush offerings of a garden, to ‘seeing’ color you hadn’t noticed, and the poetry, philosophy, and natural history of plants: revelations with life lessons that will expand your view.” —Sally Schneider, creator of Improvised Life
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“This delightfully useful and addictively readable little book may just inspire you to begin keeping a garden journal of your own, so you can record favorite plants with just a few simple brushstrokes.” —Excerpt from the book’s Amazon page
My Top Takeaways
Here are a few of my favorite inspirational morsels of wisdom I’ve gained so far from Forkner’s book:
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“Botanical observation is a constant yet ever-changing doorway to perceiving beauty and reflecting on life’s ephemeral nature.”
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“Gardening mindfully means choosing plants just because they bring you delight, not worrying about perfection, and celebrating the journey as much as the destination.”
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“Tune your eyes to see the spectacular in the subtle, the extraordinary in the ordinary.”
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“Allow yourself to play and experiment. Short little color sketches explore ideas and serve as powerful creative springboards.”
DIY Garden Journal Inspired By The Book
After getting a preview of Forkner’s gorgeous book, I was itching to start my own garden journal to capture the changing colors and botanical details in my own outdoor space.
It was super simple to put together. Here’s what you’ll need:
Supplies:
- A blank notebook or journal (I love using old school composition books for their nostalgic vibe)
- Colored pencils, watercolor paints or other portable art supplies
- Sticky notes to bookmark plant profiles & color swatches
- Garden gloves & pruners (optional but useful!)
Steps:
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Head out to your garden with your journal and art supplies in hand. Take time to slowly walk around and observe. Let inspiration strike!
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Document what you see through sketches, color swatches, plant lists, etc. Don’t worry about perfection, just enjoy the creative process.
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Jot down notes on gardening tasks, plant care tips, memories related to specific plants, etc. Use sticky notes to mark pages.
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Date each entry so you can track changes over the seasons. Over time you’ll have a treasured record of your garden’s story.
I’ve been having so much fun adding pages to my homemade garden journal. It’s become a personal creative ritual I look forward to each day, just like Forkner describes in her book. I love revisiting previous entries and seeing what’s changed in my garden.
Parting Thoughts
For any fellow gardeners, plant lovers, artists or creators out there looking for a dose of inspiration, I can’t recommend getting your hands on a copy of “Color In and Out of the Garden” highly enough. This unique book blends beautifully vibrant artwork and mindfulness in a way that will re-energize your relationship with the natural world around you.
Forkner’s hard work condensing her many years of daily painting practice into this compelling book has done gardeners and artists everywhere a wonderful service. Her insightful words and guiding prompts have me feeling more curiously creative and intentionally observant than ever before in my own garden. It’s the perfect read to welcome the burst of color that spring will soon bring.