STORY BEHIND THE ART OF INMA MEDINA

24th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art and Garden Center

Apple Blossom Amaryllis

Hippeastrum 'Apple Blossom'

Amaryllis are beautiful flowers, elegantly breathtaking. They are distinctive, majestic, and long lasting. They are super easy to care for. ‘Apple Blossom’ is a single-flowering Dutch hybrid that grows from 15 to 20 inches tall. The open flowers range from 6 to 8 inches. Introduced from South America, these beautiful flowers of this genus keep us company in the winter, warming our hearts with their beauty.

Every winter I get a couple of amaryllis bulbs from a farm in Connecticut. At first, I did not try to care for them—I simply tossed them after the blooms died. About five years ago I decided to save them, and I was able to make most of them bloom again. It is very satisfying to do this.

For the 2019 holidays, I bought a few of a less expensive variety at a supermarket. One of the potted bulbs apparently came with the wrong tag. I was expecting a red and white flower; instead, a single pink and white ‘Apple Blossom’ appeared. I absolutely loved the softness of the colors and the strength of the petals. I started to draw ideas for paintings of the bud and then the open flowers. Usually I prefer to paint strong, vibrant colors, but I could not resist this plant. It just looked beautiful and healthy. I took a lot of photos and saved them for later, still not sure if I wanted to paint a soft-colored flower.

In early 2020 as the pandemic began, I lost interest in painting. I was angry and frustrated for a little while. Then, trying to keep busy I reorganized my studio and my reference files. I found my drawings of the ‘Apple Blossom’ bud and flowers. I fell in love again with the femininity and the gentle, but strong, look of the plant. Once back to painting, I was myself again.

It was such a pleasure to paint these flowers, but far from easy. Sometimes light colors require more attention to detail. The flowers on the right are in shadow, with many different shades of grey. I had to be extra-careful not to over-paint or under-paint the filaments. Many washes and many super-tiny brushstrokes were required to create the subtle shades of grey. I spent approximately three months working on this project. Sometimes I had to take long breaks due to the humidity and to rest my eyes. This was not so easy for me, as I am a bit obsessive and like to finish fast. A new lesson learned: one cannot rush beauty.

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Read more about this artist's work: 23rd Annual