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Marvelous Orchids

5/31/2018

A stunning display of orchids in a plethora of colors at my local grocery store.

Marvelous Orchids
By Annette Bartlett-Golden

Everywhere I turn there are orchids. In grocery stores, plant centers and even home goods stores I have seen live orchids of various varieties for sale. Perhaps it’s because we celebrated Mother’s Day this month or maybe it’s because when it comes to flowers, orchids are just marvelous gifts. With their regal, arching flowers spikes rising above their leaves, they are elegant plants. And their flowers come in every hue of the rainbow. For the same price as a bouquet of flowers that may last a week you can buy an orchid with stunning blossoms that will flower for months.

Many years ago my son was given some orchids plants in need of love. One of these suddenly began blooming at Christmas and is still in flower now, nearly six months later. It is a Phalaenopsis (fayl-eh-NOP-sis) orchid with white flowers. This type of orchid has thick, oval shaped leaves that alternate and sit close to the potting medium. When the plant prepares to flower, a single stem grows out from the center of the leaves and buds begin to form on this spike, eventually swelling to round orbs that blossom into stunning, distinctively shaped flowers.

Caring for orchids may seem a mysterious art, but Phalaenopsis, one of the most commonly sold varieties of orchids, requires about the same basic care as ordinary houseplants. According to the American Orchid Society’s website, Phalaenopsis (also referred to as “phal”) are one of the easiest orchids to grow at home. These are low light orchids that thrive in the same temperatures that we prefer in our homes and indoor work spaces. Perhaps that may be why phals were popular with Victorians collectors of exotic plants.

For watering, the American Orchid Society website explains that “If your phal is potted in bark watering once a week is generally sufficient. If your plant is potted in moss, water when the top feels dry. … Place the plant in the sink and use tepid water. Do not use salt-softened or distilled water. Let the water run through the plant for a minute or so. Be sure to let the plant drain completely.” The crown of these orchids, which is the center area where the leaves are joined, is sensitive to moisture. One of the reasons Phalaenopsis orchids perish is crown rot so it’s important to make sure that water doesn’t sit in that area. Giving the plants orchid fertilizer about once a month or so is also recommended for optimal growth.

On Mother’s Day I was delighted to receive a gorgeous phal with magnificent flowers in a rich shade of magenta. In the morning light, the flowers glow like rubies and light up the room. Now there are two fabulous blooming orchids on the window sill and I have a strong inclination for more in the near future. My studio desk seems rather bare and every place without a blooming orchid seems to be missing something… Yes, I’m falling for orchids!

~For more information on plant care for Phalaenopsis orchids visit the American Orchid Society webpage.

My marvelous magenta Phalaenopis orchid!

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Painting Yoga in the Park

5/31/2018

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Painting Yoga in the Park
By Annette Bartlett-Golden

It was late in the day as I strolled through the Arboretum. Afternoon light spilled across the grassy commons and lit up the treetops. As I turned the corner, I was surprised to see a group of people sitting on mats performing yoga poses. This scene, with figures in a landscape and strong afternoon light, subjects I am interested in exploring, caught my imagination and I decided that I would paint it. That was over three years ago. At the time, I was busy with other projects. Time passed and when January came around I set a goal of starting and finishing the painting, Yoga in the Park, by the end of spring.

Creating the composition turned out to be a complicated process. When I took my reference photos, I didn't want to disturb the yoga class so I was only able to take a few pictures of the scene. In all the photos some of the people were obscured by greenery. That meant I had to work out the composition in the studio. To do this, I needed to gather more information in the form of reference photos and sketches. I used part of the group of figures in my photos and added a fifth figure to balance the grouping. For the last figure (on the far left), I needed reference photos. Since I was available and knew what pose I wanted, I ended up as the figure in that photo. Color balance and harmony is also an important part of composition so I changed the shirt colors of the people to make the figures more dynamic.

Yoga in the Park with several of the reference materials I used to paint it.

While I liked the background in my reference photo, I decided it would make a better composition if I flipped its orientation from left to right. I also wanted to add some color to the background so I painted the crepe myrtle in the back right and the flower grouping in the foreground in full bloom. For these I scoured the internet to find pictures of the plants in bloom. For some, I had to decide what sort of plants and flower color they would be since it wasn't clear from the photo. I ended up with Joe Pye weed (the tall light purple flowers), and yellow irises next to a pink dwarf hydrangea.

While I began working on the painting in January, it was a lengthy process made more difficult because of frequent starts and stops for long periods of time. Having to come back to a painting after a long break takes a bit of reorienting and doesn't make for a smooth process. So I am particularly glad to finally finish this challenging painting. Now that I have a solid composition, I think I may paint the same scene in watercolors. I’m curious to see how it will turn out.

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Marvelous Orchids

Marvelous OrchidsBy Annette Bartlett-Golden

Painting Yoga in the Park

Painting Yoga in the ParkBy Annette Bartlett-Golden

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Marvelous Orchids
By Annette Bartlett-Golden

Painting Yoga in the Park
By Annette Bartlett-Golden