0806 Slipper Orchid V of V

Botanical Illustration. Artist Code: 0806. Completed January 2008. Original SOLD. Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% hot pressed cotton rag paper. Unframed size 12″ x 16″. Framed size 19” x 15” 

SOLD:  Cambridge Open Studios Exhibition July 2008. 

Selected for the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) Exhibition, Westminster Hall, London, 2008.

My neighbour grows beautiful orchids and regularly hands them to me over the garden fence as they come into flower so that I can paint them in my studio. Artist Code 0806 is the fifth of five Orchids I painted to illustrate “The Botanical Palette”, being one of the paintings submitted to the Society of Botanical Artists in the first year to gain Associate Membership. (The criteria is five paintings accepted for the annual open exhibition, two years’ running, i.e. ten paintings accepted over two consecutive years.) First and second (Lilies, 2009, Artist Codes: 0809, 0810, 0811, 0812, 0813) year applications were successful. (For other four orchid paintings, please see Artist Codes: 0805, 0804, 0803, 0802)

Special A2 prints of this orchid were supplied to Project Art, London, for sourcing and supply of art for public and commercial space, exclusively with interior designers and architects, who were very pleased with their prints, saying: “Enclosed is a photo of your wonderful prints in their frames for our project…and we think they look really lovely.…they’ll be hung in a palace in Saudi.” [Also contracted 2011–2013 as walldecor (in sepia format) available to the trade via Felix Rosenstiel’s Widow & Son Ltd, Publishers of Fine Art.]

Poem

“Paphiopedilums”, the last of five,
I had to paint each plant alive
With frantic brush strokes—busy me,
The deadline loomed, no time for tea!
Give thanks for five orchids fine,
To share with all over given time.

Framed A2 print for Saudi Palace