STORY BEHIND THE ART OF ELAINE SEARLE

24th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art & Garden Center

Dark Hellebore

Helleborus x hybridus 'Lucy Black'

Hellebores are irresistible. They light up the garden when little else is in growth, let alone in flower! It has become a yearly ritual for me to be at the easel working on a hellebore painting each New Year’s Day.

Hellebores are toxic and have a dark history. Hellebores have been used in warfare. The second-century Greek geographer Pausanias reported that eight centuries earlier the Athenian statesman Solon ordered hellebore roots to be thrown into the water supplies of the cities his armies besieged. The cities were overthrown as their populations suffered the effects of violent stomach problems. On the other hand, Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose), has been used as a cardiac medicine since antiquity. 

Recently I have become attracted to the dark flowered varieties based on Helleborus orientalis (which originated in the eastern Mediterranean) of which 'Lucy Black' is a fine example. Challenging to paint perhaps but what's not to like! Saucer-shaped purple-black flowers starkly contrast the pale yellow anthers - providing perfect focal points.

Peeking below these are a ring of tubular nectaries. Dark green leaves with the texture of burnished leather. The bloom-like dustiness on the outer surfaces of sepals.

The original intent of this painting was a demonstration piece to guide a Zoom-based workshop – but as often happens, instruction led to obsession and I loved completing it!

Working with my limited palette of watercolor, I particularly enjoyed capturing the center flower details by negative space painting rather than applying tinted white gouache. Following my mantra 'dark doesn't have to be dull' I delighted in dry-brush finishing to introduce rich colors: the ruby glow of transmitted light or the inky blue-black of the shadows.

The close-cropped composition, and the spreading basal leaves draw the viewer to the focal point of the main flower. Creating overlapping planes of depth allowed me to further draw the viewer into the theater of this specimen’s habit.

There are more stories to tell in future hellebore paintings...bring on Winter.

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Read more about this artist's work: 16th annual