STORY BEHIND THE ART OF DOROTHY MCCAULEY

20th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists & The Horticultural Society of New York

Autumn Dancing

Rosa canina, Celastrus

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own. - Charles Dickens

After a busy holiday of not enough painting, I chose to set up my studio after Christmas. I sought a subject from my garden and collected dried specimens. I have a particularly large rose bush that is one of the early easy-care hybrids. The wonderfully huge hips and beautiful color caught my eye. I knew these features paired with the veiny calf vellum would highlight the movement of the breeze undulating the hips. I believe the painting captures the moment a breeze stirs the hips. After delicate and extensive consideration I started by painting directly on the vellum. 

I used primarily Daniel Smith paints and Pergamena vellum. I complemented the rose hips with a small bit of bittersweet, striving to present the plants in the winter months. The specimens were beautiful and I hope this painting expresses the ability to find beauty even in the coldest days of the year. 

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