Orchid!

Suburban Lawn and Garden is a warm, inviting place to paint during the cold winter days in Missouri.  The Art Mob meets here to paint about once a year - and out host is generous indeed!  With cookies, a veggie tray and pizza they welcomed us to their nursery for a morning well spent!  What could be better than sketching with artist friends in such a wonderful environment?  Painting number 2600 in 2600 days.

Orchid Phalaenopsis

purchase here

I absolutely adore the miniature orchid phalaenopsis that I picked up while painting at Family Tree Nursery!  My first miniature, the very abundant blooms beg to be painted!  Their unusual striping and petal formation makes them a challenge to draw and paint!  Jumping in with both feet, I start with the ink.  I can't help but wonder if the color would be better expressed in oils. I drop in watercolor, leaving my whites, and push the ink again at the finish.  Certainly challenging!  I think I need more orchid practice to be comfortable with their exotic form!  Painting number 2571 in 2571 days. 

Spotted Orchid

Spotted Orchid
Watercolor on paper, 9x6

This amazing orchid has been blooming for five months already!  The white faces are spotted with the red violet markings as if painted on by an artist!  This just may be my favorite variety!  I think I need to do these in oil to do them justice!  I have two other orchids just getting ready to bloom - so exciting!  They really like the light in my north kitchen!  This is painting number 1203 in as many days.