The Weekly Spectrum - The Passion Continues!

   Sometimes I feel we live in a world of hybrids - from automobiles to produce to plastics. Flowers are no exception and can produce some fairly stunning results. This week's blog focuses on the Lady Margaret passion flower. It's official classification is Passiflora 'Lady Margaret'. Apparently, deep blood red is a rare color among these types tropical vines which sport some of the most exotic flower architecture in the world. The Lady Margaret, is a hybrid between two South American species, the red Passiflora coccinea and the deciduous native of the American southeast, Passiflora incarnata.

   Confused yet? Join the club! Sometimes we can wrapped up in all the technical details and miss one important and simple factor that's right in front of us - it's a beautiful flower. One that begs to be painted. Using the mantra, keep it simple, I used basic colors for this work - primarily Alizeron Crimson and Phthalo Green mixed with a little bit of yellow. 

   Anyone who knows me, knows I love flowers. If anyone wants to know what to get me for Christmas this year - here you go! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink...

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Weekly Spectrum - Violet Passion Flower

   The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph in a magazine - while the representation was fantastic, almost no photo can do the beauty of this flower justice. These South American tropical flowers can be cultivated and thrive as patio plants. They grow on vines and will grow intertwined in pots. As long as they are in a brightly lit sun-drenched area, have decent soil, and plenty of water, they've been known to have zero problems indoors during winter months in the snow belt. In fact, with light fertilization, the Passion Flower has been known to provide vigorous growth.

   Sometimes I'm amazed at how resilient flowers and plants can be. When given the proper environment, nourishment, patience, care and love, they can basically thrive almost anywhere. The same can be said for us. Granted, while we're not destined to live a life indoors all the time, we can thrive, grow vigorously, and bear good fruit when we realize that our needs our met. Unfortunately, at numerous times, it can be the unhealthy wants that's in our minds that block us from that balance.

   With this mindset, I kept this particular work a little more simple. There isn't as much fine detail, the edges are a bit rough, and the textured background is a bit more obvious. Without going into phenomenal detail, I tried capturing the spirit of this wild beauty.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Weekly Spectrum - Beach Rose

   I was out for a walk about a week or two ago with a friend, when she plucked a prime specimen of a North Atlantic Beach Rose. She handed it to me saying, "Honey - you gotta paint what you're passionate about!"

   And so it goes and things change - blog posts as well as painting inspirations. After about two months, I'm satisfied with, and have run my course, with Maine barns and farms. I feel in my heart that my painting will now enter yet another chapter.


   A rose by any other name would not be so fair, nor smell so heavenly. And yes, here I am at it again painting flowers. However, with this new series, I am trying something different (at least for now). While I've painted every type of floral from bouquets, to small arrangements in vases, to abstracts, I've never focused on one single flower.




   Mixing and remixing paint to achieve the correct lavender shade. Layer upon layer, fold among fold. The petal ere so sweet shan't be trampled by mans feet. High upon the thorny branch, the delicate rose perchest. Plucked in the light of day - until its life spirit flitters away...


Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill