Magnolias on 5th

I have had the very good fortune to see the magnolias blooming for an extended period of time this year. They arrived earliest in New Orleans and I have seemed to catch them on great days in Charleston and now in New York. It's supposed to be 90 degrees today in NYC. Usually, I find it very difficult to paint my renderings in Manhattan, however the exception is this early springtime. There is so much anticipation of the growth to come and the city looks so clean. The palate that I am gravitating towards is the ivory whites that set off colored gemstones so well. The opaque honesty of mammoth ivory reminds me of the creamy petals of the magnolia tree outside The Frick Collection. That is a tree for the ages. The opaque also justaposes so well with the transparence of faceted stones. Today will ceartainly produce a rendering of a clients aquamarine in a ring setting with mammoth ivory, and perhaps some deep blue sapphire. Better get it done before French Quarter Festival.