Original watercolor painting of the orchid hybrid Brassolaeliacattleya George King 'Serendipity''. Available as a limited-edition giclee' print.
This painting is one of a series of art works that explores the way we "visualize" the world around us. Our eyes are constantly working with our brain to decide what and where an object is. Very little of our visual field is focused on detail.
The colors in this cattleya are a painter's delight, with the cool pink blending to shell-pink. Of course, with cattleyas, the amazing perfumes sometimes completely overwhelm all my other senses, and I have to stop painting and just smell!
Watercolor painting of the species growing epiphytically in a mist forest. Available as a limited-edition giclee' print.
Orchids in the Landscape: This is one of a series of paintings of orchids growing in their natural habitat. Through the years, I've experimented with many different types of background, and, so far, this has been the most satisfying, although time-consuming to produce. Showing an orchid's place in the forest habitat reminds us again of the wonders to be found in nature.
Watercolor painting of BLC Ponkan's Southern Lady. Available as a limited-edition giclee' print.
Once in a while a flower blooms that just blows you away. Ponkan's Southern Lady is one of those flowers. The blend of pigments in this flower from pink to persimmon, to brick red and yellow are enough to stop you in your tracks. It looks like a tropical dessert made of mangos, guavas and pineapple, colors so luscious you can almost taste them.
Original watercolor painting of a Cattleya orchid hybrid Lc Nigrescent 'Flare' by Rose Ganucheau. Available as a limited-edition giclee' print.
This painting is one of a series of art works that explores the way we "visualize" the world around us. Lavender is the most mysterious of colors. It doesn't exist as a wavelength of light, only as a combination of two wavelengths on opposite sides of the color spectrum. The color lavender only exists in our brains when we blend the wavelengths of light together. Because of this, purple changes hue greatly depending on the light source. The Color "Orchid" is a state of mind.
Watercolor painting of the cattleya orchid hybrid cross Sophrolaeliacattleya Jillian Lee.
The colors in this delightful miniature cattleya are the intense candy-colors only seen in sophronitis hybrids.
This painting is one of a series of works that explores the way we "visualize" the world around us. Our eyes are constantly working with our brain to decide what and where an object is. Very little of our visual field is focused on detail.
Watercolor painting of orchid hybrid, Laeliacattleya Tiny Treasure.
Small flowers often have a large impact. The contrasting pink and yellow color of this diminutive plant always grabs my attention and just had to be painted. The complimentary, pastel background keeps the viewer's attention focused on this little gem.
Watercolor with gouache painting of the orchid species, Cattleya schroederae.
This rare orchid is a soft shell pink with lacy, ruffled petals. Trying to describe the color on the inside of the lip can be difficult, but lemon sherbet comes to mind. Despite the appearance of being delicate, these flowers can last as long as two months on the plant, and will last forever in this painting using non-fading pigments and acid-free paper.
Original Watercolor painting of the orchid hybrid, Cattleya Irene Finney.
Most people recognize this spring-blooming orchid as a corsage orchid. Though corsages are out-of-favor, the flowers are beautiful in life and always in flower in this watercolor painting. The green background harkens back to the primal jungle origins of these exotic plants.
Watercolor painting of the orchid species.
In this painting, pale lavender flowers with deep purple throats dangle gracefully on three-foot-long inflorescences, swaying gently in the breeze.
Watercolor painting of Cattleya Nigrescent 'Troubadore'.
This original watercolor was reproduced as a limited-edition, Fine Art Print to celebrate the release of Courtney's book, American Cattleyas. The artist was inspired by this phenomenal flowering of the classic corsage orchid, Cattleya Nigrescent ‘Troubadoure’. Its luscious color, silky ruffled petals, velvety lip with golden "eyes", and scrumptious perfume remind us how easy it is to become intoxicated by this amazing group of orchids.
Watercolor painting of the orchid species. Available as a limited-edition print.
Many of us think of Cattleyas as "Real Orchids", and seeing a well-flowered bifoliate like Cattleya bowringiana is a sight we don’t soon forget. The tall thin composition of this painting emphasizes the height of these giants.
This orchid is certainly the epitome of a cattleya, or corsage-orchid. Though not in my usual style, it is modeled after the Royal Horticultural Society's award paintings. I consider this my finest single orchid flower painting to date..