Paula Carnell - gallery of paintings

amarylis ()

40cm x 40cm
Acrylic on silk

I began my silk painting career by painting flowers, although usually in vases with backgrounds. Now, through much study of the flowers over the years, I have gone through almost abstract studies to botanical studies and now returning to arrangements in one of my collection of vases. I always paint from life, usually holding the flower in my left hand whilst painting with my right. I feel strongly that painting in this way, directly from the subject, captures some of the flower's energy. I do no preparatory drawings unless the flowers are arranged. Normally I see a flower and I am instantly inspired, so the flower itself guides me on how it should be painted, rather than me searching for the flower in the right stage of blossom. I grow most of my flowers, although my favourite, the Torch Ginger, I painted whilst travelling in Hawaii. They are huge flowers, between 5 and 7 feet tall with a huge root ball, so not currently able to grow in my conservatory. I then took many photographs which I continue to work from in my studio.