Barrel Cactus in Bloom by Michelle Frae Cummings

To take a break from my normal crafting, I thought it would be fun to show you a mixed media painting I did for this months theme- "Flowers".
I'm currently in Borrego Springs, Ca visiting my Mother. They had some rain a couple of days ago so most of the desert floor is still green and the flowers are still in the budding stage, not ready  to open up.
When I created  this barrel cactus cluster, I painted them in anticipation of what they will look like in a few weeks!

 I started first by painting the cactus base shapes with green watercolor. Then I added shades of bright yellow, yellow green and dark green watercolor. When the paint was dry, I added some definite detail with gold, dark green and pink pearlescent  watercolors by Yasutomo.

Next I used my finger to add some shades of Inka-Gold.
Lavared for the blooms with some Champagne in the center. Oldgold and Champagne for the cactus sharp spines. The nice thing about Inka-Gold is that once it set, it will not smear and your art work can be enjoyed with no hassle.
Lastly I used a fine tip black Sharpie to bring the Barrel Cactus cluster to life!

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have enjoyed the "change of scenery" from my normal crafting. :)
~Michelle

Please use the "hop forward" button to the right of this post -  for The Designer Craft Connection group to see what else is "blooming" on their blogs too!

Desert Blooms

 Over this last weekend, I spent some time at my Mom's house in Borrego Springs, CA. These are photos I snapped in the morning while it was a "cool" 80* before the temp became hotter (100's) in the afternoon. All this flowers and shrub blooms are grown and cared for by my Mom. So pretty!

Desert Beauty

~ Michelle Cummings

There's a Dragon with a Rattlesnake tail in the Desert!

Artist Ricardo Breceda is the man behind this amazing sculpture along with 129 other metal sculptures all over Borrego Springs, CA. Dyllan and I were there a couple if weeks ago to visit my mom who lives in the valley. We braved the 115* fluke heat to see this newest creation!

Most of the creations can be read about here.
The map still need to updated with some new additions including some grape pickers.

I think the workmanship on the dragon is just amazing. and while this is not a true ancient desert dweller, it fits right in as it's a wonderful piece of fantasy art work!

Please click on photos to see some amazing detail!



See more of my Borrego Springs posts here, & here.
Thanks for stopping by! Comments welcome! :)

Desert Heat Blooms

Last week I was in Borrego Springs Ca, and even thought the temp peaked 118* on one day, this still was alive and colorful.

Springtime in the Desert

Amazing how something can be so beautiful and painful at the same time...


~ Michelle Cummings

The Living Desert

For spring break, on April 7thth 2010, Dyllan and I went to my Mom's in Borrego for a few Days. On one of those days the three of us hopped in my card, cruised through the bad lands, made a left at Salton sea and arrived here, at the Living Desert!


I think by far my favorite was the Butterfly and hummingbird area!

and this bench!

Inside a glass window hung the cocoons, waiting to hatch. And here see a newly hatched one drying it's wings before taking flight.

The place is amazing! All sorts of animals from sleeping cheetahs to Giraffe families.


This is a African desert tortoise. HUGE! He lived in a Cave, and really moved fast!

Above I found a nest in a thorny tree, and below is a model train yard
that delighted all three of us.
The flowers looked like they have been painted by little faerie hands too!

Another nest and Dyllan posing in front of the state of the art Animal Hospital.

If you do decide to go to the Living desert, pay the few extra dollars for unlimited rides on the tram- takes you where you need to go and is a nice change from walking, also you can get to visit the Butterfly's all you want!
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Here I am, self posing in Borrego Springs, CA.


I took a little time to myself to find some wild flowers like I did last year,
But I was a month late and as you can see behind me, most of them were done.
But I did go hunting and found some in remote area's and on sides of roads...

The barrel cactus flowers are from the visitor center.



This Ocotillo was taken near my Mom's house.

This is the bad lands that we drove through earlier and then flowers from the visitor center.


Kitchen window view at my Mom's and Dyllan relaxing in the pool. :)

* If you would like to share any of my photo's with friends please do not copy with out my permission. Thank You. :)*