Springtime Happiness Flower Painting In Art Show

Remember how wonderful apple blossoms smell in spring?

You can recapture that feeling and almost smell the sweet flowers in one of my new flower watercolors, Springtime Happiness, which will go on view on May 30 in a show at the Elmhurst Art Museum.

Jurors for the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) chose my painting for the group's Small Works Exhibition, which runs Saturday, May 30, through Friday, June 26, in the Elmhurst Artists' Guild Gallery space within the museum.

Small Artworks A 'Treasure'

As the show's organizers noted, "small artworks often convey greater meaning by encouraging intimacy, compelling detailed observation, and fostering emotional connection."

In fact, small artworks often are perceived as a "treasure," inviting viewers to look closer to discover their special secrets.

Every piece in this show measures no more than 24 inches in any direction, including the frame. Springtime Happiness measures approximately 21 .5 by 21 inches, a treasure of blossoms on golden handmade paper.

Join Me At Opening Reception Friday, June 12

Please join me for the artists' opening reception, to be held Friday, June 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.

It will be great to see you and explore my Springtime Happiness painting together in person.

Admission is free for this event, and it's free to enter the Elmhurst Artists' Guild Gallery within the museum during all hours the museum is open. (Note that admission to the rest of the museum and its exhibits requires a paid ticket.) 

About Springtime Happiness: A Treasure Of Color, Precious Materials

Have you ever stood beneath an apple tree in full bloom, just drinking in the sweet scent?

One of my fondest childhood memories is the big apple tree in a planter on the patio. She looked so beautiful in spring, when the flowers buds opened and the breezes carried the aroma all around the yard.

Springtime Happiness captures those magical moments, preserving them in a painting for you to enjoy forever. 

It's painted on a special paper called dragon cloud, in a special butternut color that looks golden. The paper is made in Asia from the bark of mulberry trees, whose long fibers show in the paper to create a unusual texture.

It's called dragon cloud paper because these fibers look like they're swirling around randomly in the paper, just as clouds swirl in the sky.

Isn't that a lovely metaphor?

The paper easily holds large amounts of water and heavy paint application. You can see rich, thick color in the leaves and in the middle cluster of blossoms. Even though apple blossoms usually are light colored, I decided to make them lavender and dark purple to stand out on the golden butternut paper.

Once it was dry, I hand mounted the painting, which smoothed out perfectly and shows off the dragon cloud fibers all around the flower branch.

When it came to choosing a mat and frame, the best selection turned out to be a dark mat, with the painting "floating" on it, and a buttery rich wood frame.

Come see for yourself at the opening on June 12. I'm so excited to show it to you! 

See More Flower Paintings

You can see more of my flower watercolors by visiting my Flower Collections page now. 

One of the collections highlights colorful flowers on highly textured branches., while the others celebrate mornings in spring and the gentleness of flowers.

Elmhurst Artists' Guild Gallery Location, Hours

The Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery is located inside the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126.

Gallery (and museum) hours are Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m., and Friday, Saturday,  and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. For more information, call the museum at (630) 834-0202.