This painting was not originally painted for the "THINK PINK" show, but I entered it anyway quite frankly to have a reason to donate more to the fund raiser.

The amount of pink paint as well as the variety of pink paint I had to mix for this painting was incredible! The eye and mind see this flower and simply think “PINK!” However, there is so much more to the color of this flower. This pink flower has dozens of colors – green shadows, blue undertone, yellow highlights, etc. I loved this mum because it was a usual spring-like shade of pink rather than the more common muted fall colors.

Like most of my stills, I chose a black background, but opted to fill the canvas with petals to really showcase the pretty flower and the elegance of its elements. This flower was a challenge because the close vantage required special care in setting up the composition. Unlike most of my work, I endeavored to portray a very calm scene rather than one with energy rushing off the canvas. Nevertheless, because of my affinity for rich saturated colors I believe the best I achieved was reserved enthusiasm, lol!

With this painting I started with a rather detailed drawing, giving contour lines to even the smallest gradations in colors. It was important to me to retain the reality of the form and color but finely introduce the sensation of calmness through the quality of line and composition.