Monday, 3 June 2013

Purple Crysanthemum

                                          Acrylic on board 15cm x 15cm (6" x 6")

I had moments while painting this picture when I felt in touch with my inner chrysanthemum, but it only lasted while working on the left half of the main flower as you can see. Most of the time I felt I was channeling a dead thistle.

I had initially set it up to paint from life, but when I took a photo of it, I rather liked the way it had simplified the jar and so worked from that instead. The photo made the flowers look much pinker than they are so I tried to remain faithful to the real thing.


I have a lovely little patch of chrysanthemums still flowering in the garden. Unfortunately I have neglected them. They haven't been staked to allow them to stand up with dignity. So I thought I'd make up for it by honouring them in paint. The patch is made up of several different colours and types. They came to me initially as potted gifts for Mother's Days' past.


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26 comments:

  1. Darla McDowell3 June 2013 at 19:58

    Wendy, this is beautiful! I love the lost edges. So pretty!

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  2. Unknown4 June 2013 at 03:31

    Oh Wendy! This was a wonderful idea for a composition with the flowers bowing over the edge of the glass jar. I love how you said your 'inner chrsanthymum...' but none of them resemble a dead thistle, rest assured! You did a beautiful job with this piece.

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 03:55

      Thanks Katherine,
      The next morning, I could no longer feel the dead thistle and was happier with it than I'd been when wrestling with the paint. It is amazing how often a painting seems better after the dust (paint) has settled.

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  3. Laura Leeder4 June 2013 at 07:35

    Beautiful!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 03:55

      Thanks Laura for the comment and for becoming a follower. Love your blog!

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  4. Anonymous4 June 2013 at 08:19

    Really lovely, Wendy!! The Crysanthemums are beautiful and I love how you painted the glass! 'Inner Crysanthemum...' very funny!! :D

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 03:56

      Thanks so much Hilje. Love having you visit my blog and I'm glad you got a laugh out of it.

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  5. Jane4 June 2013 at 12:57

    I really love the strong contrast of the bold yellow and the dark red flower ,and so beautiful how you let out the edges of the glass . A truly beautiful composition !

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 03:58

      Thanks Jane, I appreciated hearing which aspects you enjoyed. I had wondered while painting if I should have defined the edges more, so it was nice to hear that I'd done the right thing.

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  6. art by Michael Perchard4 June 2013 at 17:13

    Ola Mate!
    Love your Purple Chrysanthemums! After writing all that now I know why we call them Mums!
    Your writing gave me a good laugh! Thank you! I love dead thistles!
    Great job Wendy! I love the flower, the glass container and the beautiful yellow background. Very dignified!
    Our mums are up and running in September and throughout our fall season! Very hardy plants in our cold autumn weather.
    Love your little garden photo!
    Great post mate!
    Only recently found out that the "cobbler" you were referring to is a fish common to West Coast Australia? The only cobblers we have in New England repair shoes!
    Take care Cobber!
    Michael

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 04:08

      Hi Michael,
      Thanks for all your lovely compliments! Yes, Chrysanthemums are the official Australian Mother's Day flowers. What flower is symbolic for Mother's Day in the US?
      I guess you must have wondered what on earth I was talking about when I suggested your accidental use of "Cobbler" was a Freudian slip with the ocean theme. I hadn't realised that Cobbler wasn't a commonly known fish around the world. I'm glad you thought to look it up!!! Ha ha! the fun of language differences!
      Your Australian art Cobber!
      Wendy

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  7. Debi Murray5 June 2013 at 05:41

    There is nothing "dead" about this painting!!! I think your inner chrysanthemum spoke a lot longer than you realize! But, oh, how I know the feeling :) Beautiful painting, Wendy.

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 03:59

      Thanks so much Debi, I appreciate you visiting!

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  8. Celia Blanco5 June 2013 at 08:02

    Hi Wendy, beautiful work! I love your mums.The colors are gorgeous and wonderful job on the glass. It's nice to see your photo reference and your garden too! Have a nice day!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 04:00

      Thanks Celia, I always love your flower paintings - and all your others too of course!

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  9. Dave Wessels6 June 2013 at 08:42

    Okay, first of all... my garden skills are virtually nonexistent. So for me to see someone who's actually placed their potts in the garden that's a 0-1 score already. Haha... I can't understand why they should feel neglected after your colorful artistic ode. I'm sure they're arguing already amongst themselves who will be next up for a portraiture! Love the colors!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 04:12

      Thanks Dave, Oooh now you make me think I should paint a yellow one to avoid favouritism!
      You are quite right - it is a positive thing just getting potted plants into the ground. There have been too many potted plants over the years that have suffered premature deaths at my hands because I didn't plant them out in time.

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  10. Unknown7 June 2013 at 18:17

    beautifully done Wendy! Your garden looks abundant too!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 June 2013 at 04:13

      Thanks so much Sally. How is your recently planted rose faring?

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  11. Robin Rosenthal9 June 2013 at 04:08

    Wendy you masterfully captured the shape of the chrysanthemums and gave them depth. To me that is the hardest part, beautiful.

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  12. Wendy Barrett9 June 2013 at 07:11

    Hi Robin, I hadn't thought of it like that. Very encouraging thank you!

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  13. Helen Cooper10 June 2013 at 03:06

    Wow, great composition and I absolutely love how you painted the glass jar!

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  14. Wendy Barrett10 June 2013 at 19:44

    Thanks so much Helen. I had been inspired to paint a chrythanthemum after seeing your stunning creations. It was very obvious that you were channeling chrysanthemums and not dead thistles!! I'm in awe at what you achieve with your paintings!!

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  15. Laura16 June 2013 at 15:10

    Wow Wendy such a strong composition through colour, shape and positioning. I find still life always so hard to set up. Yours is beautifully done. Love the work with the water too. There really is nothing dead or thistly about this.

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  16. Wendy Barrett16 June 2013 at 19:55

    Hi Laura, thank you for your lovely comments. All this talk of thistles, dead or otherwise has made me think about them as a future painting subject. I will have to re-visit my photos from a trip to the UK many years ago and see if any show painting potential.
    Love your Italian window!!!!

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