This is the final sketch drawn & painted in my workshop last Thursday.
A Bird of Paradise...right there in front of me!
What a joy to find her...she took my artistic breath away!
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a dramatic plant
with distinctive iridescent orange and midnight blue flowers
that resemble an exotic bird peeking out from the broad leaves.
It blooms in autumn, winter and spring.
This flower is often associated with tropical places,
like Hawaii,
but the plant is actually native to South Africa.
It grows wild in the eastern Cape
where it is an important nectar source for birds.
In the United States
it is widely used as an ornamental in Southern California and Florida
It is the official flower of the City of Los Angeles.
It is also commonly used as a cut flower in the florist trade.
This is the first time I ever saw one in a natural habitat.
I can only imagine the stunning beauty of seeing them
growing wild in South Africa.
Ahhh...again Mother Nature surely outdoes herself doesn't she?!
Well...
No philosphical quotation today...just a bit of Bird of Paradise fun!
The holidays are coming...so check this out...
Learn how to fold a napkin like a bird of paradise! Click right here!
(btw...This one's in your honor Soulbrush!)
"Cactus Monday"
17 comments:
Hi Margaret Ann. I love this post, one of my favourite plants! The composition and colours are just right, it would make a nice centre piece for the Christmas table to match your napkins. Hmmm? I was thinking out aloud but I might be pinching your napkin idea.
oh margaret this is so very special to me. i had them in my garden, yes i did. they are absolutely amazingly beautiful and look just like a bird. thanks so very much, what a lovely image to wake up to.
These are stunning plants Margaret and you do them justice with your painting.
Hmmmmm I am going to have to try to do the napkin folding. It looks like fun.
I love this flower too--we had them all over the place in Ca and I miss them. Your painting is gorgeous! I also love the lettering and the border. Do you spend alot of time practicing your lettering or does it just come naturally? It is charming!
Lisa
I love your work and your site----all the info I find fascinating---looking forward to the next one--!
This is so beautiful! The dark one is really classy too. I have a friend who'd love that napkin folding, it's great!
ooooh!! Great job on capturing the BOP perfectly! I love the lower right shoot coming up. Sort of looks like a mourning dove profile.
Lovely!
I love these blooms also and you did beautiful justice to them.
PS, they are even more beautiful when viewing them in Hawai'i :)
~Wow, Wonderful post and and I I saved the link from the napkin, maybe one day I can impress my guests with them.
I love the bird of paradise, I used them in one of my mandalas, it is perfect for the number 2 and orange.
Your artwork is gorgeous!
have a nice sunday!
Lovely strelitz! My mother grows them in pots, very successfully considering our less-than-tropical climate here in the UK.
this is just gorgeous!!!! i love both versions! stunning...
Beautiful - stunning, actually! I have a b of p in my yard - youve really done it justice!
Very, very beautiful!!! And your lettering... it is just so uplifting!
This painting has a fantasy feel to it for me. I love your painting of this beautiful flower. the colors you used are so bright and the whole thing just comes together. Great job.
Lovely BOP!!! I like the napkin folding as well. COOL.
Ah Margaret, now you are right in my nook of the world! =)
These beautiful plants grow in many, many gardens here in South Africa, and still they amaze with their flamboyant colours and beautifully structured shapes.
Truly heavenly art!
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