Orchid

• Subject: Flower portrait
• Medium:Watercolour & gouache
• Completion Date: April 12, 2006
• Completion Time: 25 hours
• Dimensions: 21'' X 18''
• Background: Textured wash

Having been bought a beautiful orchid I decided to immortalise the flower heads in a painting.  I was fascinated by the inner details of the flower with its wax like petals and felt that watercolours would be a good medium to show the translucent quality of the subject.  I chose to set them on a loose background of textured washes, achieved by adding rock salt while the paint was still wet, giving a diffused effect.