It is a challenge for every artist I know to find inspiration for their next painting. Whether the are a Plein Air landscape painter or a Fantasy artist that spark of inspiration generally comes from a concept along with something they have seen. Because I am a Photorealist most of my work depends on photo references and a painting is generally only as good as my photo references. So I am on a constant quest for wonderful photo opportunities.
I pull over on my way to an appointment because I just have to have a photo of the clouds hovering around the top of a mountain. I stop on bike rides to snap a picture of a cactus in bloom beside the road (that's why I ride alone most of the time). I've even been busted pulling out my cell phone in the grocery store to photograph a price wine label instead of shelling out the big buck they wanted for it.
So it only made sense to me to try and grow some of my own painting resources. Since I paint lilies a lot I was excited when my local Lowes had a special on Calla Lilies. My favorite! I live in Southern California they practically grow like weeks. This should be easy, right?
It worked beautifully! The photos above became the painting below.
Well, thank goodness I took lots of photos of my lilies because over the next couple of weeks something began to go wrong. My beautiful lily plant began to turn yellow and wither.
And despite hand watering, rain and beautiful So Cal weather....
My lily has died. Along with the orchid and anthurium and pink lilies I bought. I think we can safely assume that I did not inherit my grandmother's green thumb!
So I guess I am back to stopping outside my dentist's office to take cell phone photos of his lilies! And with this track record, I think it best that I avoid the pet shop!
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