R is for Red

Roses are red, and I live in the City of Roses, but I love amaryllis. Roses grow in my garden, but I grow amaryllis bulbs in a sunny garden window. They seem to thrive on my gardening style, also known as benign neglect.

Every year (not at Christmas when they are supposed to bloom, but in deep winter when their beauty and color are most needed)  they thrill me by producing a fabulous circle of huge, glorious red blooms. I have about ten plants that somehow manage to bloom in sequence (clever beauties.)

Year after year I photograph them from every angle and in every light. This piece, created by combining several photos, is my absolute favorite.

So, in honor of R day -  one of my favorite subjects - my beautiful amaryllis.

I love the abstract yet realistic effect - do you see this as flowers?

R is for Rose

Wild Rose

I have been thinking about creating a new series of paintings - or continuing to work on the one I have already begun with the hope of having enough related work to create a show.

I've also been thinking about, and teaching about Georgia O'Keeffe.

When I look at my drawings and paintings, and at my photography, and when I think of what comes easiest to my hands, and what looks best on my canvases,  it is clear that I am once again headed in the direction of flowers.

This renewed urge to start something new, coupled with the Georgia focus has resulted in time spent poring over my floral photos, as well as past paintings. Looking at my digital pix, I began to enlarge the images seeking detail, depth, patterns and ideas. Look what I found in a simple (incredibly fragrant) wild rose that grows in my front yard. By enlarging the image, I found a whole world (a universe?) - so today, R day, is about the redolent red rose.

R is for Red

Its a red red red red world out there - at least for now. Storms, wind and rain will probably tear down this incredible beauty by tomorrow, but today was a perfect opportunity to record the remarkably rosy abundance of leaves.

Meteorologists are blaming the incredible intensity of the leaf colors on our unusual summer and fall weather - whatever the reasons, the results are spectacular.

 Of course, I can not simply take some photos and leave them alone. Last year, for the challenge I created another leaf design - using gold leaves. I wondered what would happen if I played with this red image  -

This is the result  (thanks Photoshop) and thanks Ronaele for the inspiration :-)