STORY BEHIND THE ART OF JANET RIECK

Weird, Wild, & Wonderful

Second New York Botanical Garden Triennial Exhibition

2014 - 2016

Chin cactus

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii 

I came to Buenos Aires to retire, dance tango and paint the flora and plants here. I will be returning to the United States in May with numerous subjects to paint as a result of my living and exploring the reserves here. The "Chin Cactus" is the first of a number of cacti I will be painting, all of them very unique and “weird”. I loved the contrast of nature between the thorns and the delicate flowers that bloom on top. I have always been drawn to exotic plants and flora...so this was no stretch. Although the thorns were very difficult to do, it was a great subject to paint. 

I hope people will appreciate the difficulty of painting the fine thorns and the delicate colors of the flowers in contrast to the heavy green base of the cactus. To me there is always beauty in nature, whether it is visually beautiful as in a rose or the many cacti with their unusual forms and quills. 

"Chin" Cacti can also be found in the US - most of my subjects can be grown and found in the US if the climate is the same as in South America. My subjects for the future include "Croton" with its changing leaves, "Tillandsia" or Air Plant with its delicate purple and red flowers, "Mburucuya" or Passion Flower with its delicate strange pistils, "Bird of Paradise" which although common in the US is much more vibrant in color here in Buenos Aires and "Cycas Revoluta" Circa, the most bizarre plant I have found here - it is not found in the US.

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