“Aglow in the Shadows”
Acrylic on Archival Canvas
12 x 12″ x 1.5″
While searching my photos for this piece I came across a white sunflower. The angle of the shot was engaging. Then I noticed an interesting group of unopened petals left of center. The seeds led my eye right to them.
The sheer resilience and beauty of sunflowers were the inspiration for this painting. They have an almost magical ability to bring a touch of sunshine, even in the darkest settings. The essence of how a sunflower can stand demur in challenging times is a metaphor of hope and beauty.
In creating this piece I focused on the contrasts between light and shadow. Rather than white I decided golden-yellow would be striking against a black background.
Mixing equal amounts of three primary colors produces black. I added airbrush medium to thin the mixture and scumbled the background creating subtle shades of gray and black. The next morning I applied a glaze of quinacridone gold. Ahhh yes, deep, rich, warm brown tones appeared in the gray areas enhancing the color of the petals.Each petal has varying shades of yellow and gold capturing depth and texture, white highlights add to that depth. In the center of the flower is a densely packed arrangement of seeds. This provides a striking contrast to the bright petals. The play of light and shadow adds a three-dimensional quality making it pop right off the canvas.
I hope “Aglow in the Shadows” brings a bit of light into your life, it did mine. It’s more than a painting – it’s a piece meant to inspire and uplift. It showcases the astonishing beauty that can glow even in the shadows.
Here are some of the paintings I created since my last newsletter.
Each acrylic painting is painted on warp resistant, kiln-dried New Zealand Pine cradles
At the Edge of the Forest 5″x5″x.75″,Mushroom Trio 6″x8″x1.75″,Sanctuary in the Woods 6”x6”x.75″
Kailey’s, Trio, each 12”x6”x1.75”
Wild Poppies & Daisies triptych each panel 8″x8″x.75″
This wall collage was done in the home of one of my collectors.
There have been quite a few friendly visitors to the Cottage this summer. Note the little Anole lizard on my purple heart plant (tradescantia pallida), to the left. The little frog, below, has been hanging out in my canna lilies most of the summer. The black butterfly lit on my blue plumbago (new to my backyard this spring) I was impressed that the spots of color on his wings matched the blossoms. It doesn’t take much to inspire me to grab my camera. The first time I saw this turtle, whose shell was 5″ wide, I hurried into the house to grab my phone. When I returned he was gone. So much for turtles being slow. This time my phone was handy.
Below are some of the new planting that adorn my pots and flower beds this year. With the hot scorching weather this summer, which began in early spring and hasn’t let up, I hope they stay happy and healthy. Speaking of purple heart plants check out the photo of the leaning glass pitcher on the right. It’s my fun way of rooting the trimmings. I love unusual pieces.
Blueplumbago, Sweet Peas, Heart.Purple Heart Rooting
Things are not always perfect at the the Cottage. For example . . . Japanese beatles have been skeletonizing my roses. I’m considering digging up the roses and replacing them with forsythia and/or clematis. Google tells me the beatles aren’t supposed to be attracted to those. Hummm!
My life isn’t good or bad. It’s an incredible series of emotional and mental extremes, with beautiful thunderstorms and stunning sunrises. – Rambling Duchess
Wishing you beauty everywhere you look
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