STORY BEHIND THE ART OF MITSUKO SCHULTZ

20th Annual International 

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

Pink Peony 

Paeonia lactiflora

I like many different kinds of flowers and even though it is difficult to choose my favorite, the peony is a definitely in my top five. I am a floral designer and often use peonies for floral arrangements because I love their elegant petals and fragrance. That is why I chose to paint this subject. I painted a pale pink peony a few years ago and this hot pink one is my second attempt. This time, however, I painted it larger than life, about two times larger. 

This common garden peony, Paeonia lactiflora, is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to central and eastern Asia. There are over 3000 cultivars. Unfortunately, I don't know which cultivar I painted because I bought mine from a grocery store. 

The root of the peony is used for Chinese medicine and it is also used in Japan, my home country. I have taken medicine that contains peony roots while I was living in Japan.

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Read more about this artist’s work: 19th Annual International