I had a lot of fun creating the Lily of the Valley piece I shared the other day, so I decided to make another piece of that type. I am thinking I might make a series out of these. Today I created a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) study. I love how bright the colored pencil is when I push down hard on them. The softness of these particular pencils blend well which makes them extra fun.
I sketched this out lightly in pencil, then traced the pencil with a permanent marker. I used a fine tip waterproof pen to add some detail. Lastly, I colored it in with colored pencil.
Coneflowers are a late blooming perennial native to the east and midwest. They are a favorite of pollinators in late summer and early fall. They get their name from the large orange “cone” in the center of each flower. Once the flowers dry these cones provide seeds that propagate the species and provide a food source for some bird species.
Echinacea are also popular as a remedy for colds and flu, as all parts of the plant can be used to stimulate the immune system.
When growing in the garden they prefer full sun and well drained soil. With the right conditions they bloom up to two months.
Liz