This was the first orchid I have ever created in scratchboard and it's not a flower I would typically choose but when I came across a photo taken by dorne (from a photo reference website) I ran to my drawing table and started creating this right away.

As I was scratching the ink away I realized that my normally aggressive movements had to be tamed down to duplicate the delicate petals and leaves. In a way it forced me to slow down and really start to appreciate my subject. I had always thought of orchids as a little bit awkward and fragile but the more I studied it the more I realized that there is an almost impossible beauty in it's blossoms.

With the process of scratchboard I had to reduce it to a black and white image before I applied any colour and I wish I had taken a picture of it in black and white so you could see how lovely it was at that moment. I was on edge to add the coloured inks for fear that it would not be as beautiful. Well I took the risk and I am very happy with how it turned out and it's quickly become one of my favourite pieces.