Spring Art Inspiration: Painting Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC
Welcoming spring with a new art print
Spring is finally arriving here in Washington, DC. After what has felt like a long, heavy winter, the city is slowly coming back to life. One of my favorite signs that spring is near? The cherry blossoms! This year, peak bloom has been predicted for the last week of March, and I can’t wait to see the trees in full color along the Tidal Basin and throughout the city.
One of the highlights of this spring has been working on a brand new watercolor of the Tidal Basin. This piece features the Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms in full bloom, with their reflections dancing softly on the water. I loved capturing the light and color of the season—especially the subtle pink tones and the ripples in the basin that mirror the scene above.
If you followed my work last year, you probably remember my watercolor of Stumpy—the little cherry tree that became a local favorite. I was touched by how many people connected with that painting. Stumpy was one of my best sellers, and I still get messages about it!
Art at Takoma BevCo
This month brought a new and exciting opportunity: some of my original watercolor paintings are now hanging at Takoma BevCo! It’s a cozy, welcoming coffee shop in my neighborhood, and I’m really happy to have my work there. If you happen to stop in for a coffee, take a look—there’s something special about seeing art outside of a gallery or studio setting.
SHE:DC Exhibition
Another highlight this March has been participating in the SHE:DC exhibit, organized by Shop Made in DC. This curated show celebrates women and nonbinary artists from the DMV area, and it features an incredible range of work. I contributed my watercolor Pennsylvania Avenue in the Fall. My piece actually sold on opening night(!), but if you like the artwork, I have art prints available in my Etsy store.
Exploring Nocturnes in Watercolor
This month, I challenged myself to paint nocturnes. Capturing nighttime light is very different from painting during the day, but I loved exploring this in an online workshop with artist Katy Woodward. Here are the two pieces I painted: a NYC storefront and a view of Trafalgar Square in London. I’m already looking through my photos folder to decide what to paint next!
I’m hoping to spend the next few weeks sketching outside again as the weather warms up. This is my favorite season in DC and I will be looking for some inspiration for artworks in the future.
Thanks for reading and sharing this space with me.
