#2 in a series of ten oil paintings called “The Northwestern Flowers in Bottles Series.”
This is my favorite painting from this project. I’m not sure if it’s because of my general affection for hydrangeas, or if it’s due to the fact that this is by far the most challenging piece I’ve ever tackled.
Have you ever noticed how many individual petals there are in one Hydrangea head? I started counting and lost track at about 200, not even close to being done. Had I realized this fact before hand, you would most definitely not be looking at this painting right now, as I would have chosen another flower in its place.
Fortunately, I went into this piece with a naive excitement, until the reality of what I had just gotten myself into sank in.
Now that I’m done painting, I can honestly say that I am so thankful that God created this flower. I love its perfectly shaped puffy round head on such a sturdy stem.
I planted a hydrangea bush in our yard last summer, but it certainly was never lovely as this hot house variety. It started out nice and blue, but despite the coffee grounds and orange peels I kept feeding it all summer, it still turned a faded pink by August.
This year I am taking more serious measures and have already purchased some special fertilizer for acid loving bushes. At least I’ll have the print of this purple hydrangea as a back-up if my bush turns pink again.
The bottle this flower sits in was given to Tim and I as a wedding gift in 1993. It is a tall rectangular vase that is just perfect for a small number of situations. The hydrangea is definitely the right flower for this vase!
(NOTE: f you are reading this story and are looking for mindless ways to fill time, please feel free to count the petals in this painting and e-mail me your results. I would be quite grateful for the information.)
