This sketch is a combination of the multi-pointed leaf of Ricinus and the lovely curved contours of the yellow bells. Although I must have passed by the castor bean plant many times, I noticed it for the first time, today. I also took the time to look more closely at the bright yellow/orange flowers poking through the leaves of a rather large tree. My phone told me that these voluptuous clusters of yellow are called yellow bells.

I inked the smooth curves of the yellow bells first. Then I overlaid the sharp edges of the ricinus leaves, centering the point from which all the veins radiated, over the smooth funnel at the center of the yellow bells.

Before applying the watercolor, I tried to make sense of the scrambled lines. It was difficult to tell which shapes were the ricinus leaves and which were the yellow bells even though their outlines were quite different. Ultimately, the watercolors determined how the disparate shapes interacted.

Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: 

https://autisminspiredart.etsy.com

My other artwork for sale is at: 

https://otherartbyjack.etsy.com