“A SPECIAL IRIS” (18 x 24 in.)

The aunt of a friend of mine has a beautiful garden full of many varieties of irises. She suggested that I go out to look at the flowers, perhaps finding some inspiration. So one sunny spring day I did. This particular flower caught my eye because of its dark rich color…almost black. This “black” iris was not black at all but was full of other color. I tried to capture this variety of hues by using a mixture of blues and purples. By multiple layering I was able to achieve a velvet-like texture to the flower. I also find the orchid a very sensual flower…soft and full of delicate curves. The background was deliberately left indistinct but giving the impression of going from the green of the garden to the earth behind in the distance and finally the sky above.
After the painting was complete my friend told me that this particular iris was special because it had been given as a gift to her aunt. This flower is now a living memory of that connection.