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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Friday, April 09, 2010

FEATHERY FLOWER

Are these feathers arranged in a circle?

Or are these feathers in a flower arrangement? 
No, but that is what it made me think of first. 
The bracts with the "fur" certainly could give one that idea.

This is a Protea, also known as bearded sugarbush. The national flower for the Republic of South Africa. Also, Australia has adopted the variety Telopea as the floral emblem of New South Wales.
In painting this flower I stayed closer to what I saw, since I have never seen this flower in reality.

© 24 x 24 Oil, St. Germain
I was so taken by the feathery appearance, that I did not want to wait till I would go to Hawaii. That is another place where the Protea is sold.
This flower grows in a variety of soils and can stand from 32 degrees Fahrenheit up to near 80 degree weather. This flower certainly  catches whiffs of my dreams!


~~~

22 comments:

CorvusCorax12 said...

what a gorgeous flower

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Very nice rendering of the flower, whiffs of dreams and all. I have downloaded the image and put it on my Windows screen as background. I had never heard of, let alone seen, this flower. And I love that name "bearded sugarbush". I think I'll have to use that in a poem some day, complete with whiffs of dreams...

rainfield61 said...

Such a nice piece of work!

Irene said...

It doesn't look like a real flower. It looks like somebody made it up. Now let me see, if I add some feathers her...

Stephanie V said...

I love the beginnings of your painting. The suggestion of feathers is very strong but I always knew it was a flower. I thought it was an unusual tulip, though.

I don't remember seeing any in Hawaii - a good reason to go back, right?

CorvusCorax12 said...

not sure where the illustration is from i found it googling images but it didn't have any artist information

Jeannette StG said...

Twain,
Thank you, friend! I saw on your bloglist that my 2nd blog ART NOTES had not changed posts(from 3 weeks ago) -do you know what the problems could be?

Lorenzo,
I've seen the Protea on several blogs, that's how I came to know about it:). Yes, it's okay with me that you have it on your computer screen -I'm glad you are so jazzed about it!, but If you're going to print it out, please ask me, because all my paintings are copy-righted:)
And if you get to that poems about whiffs of dreams, please alert me:)

Rainfield,
Thank you, Friend! I'm always looking for new flowers, so if you'll find one on your treks, it would be great to make a close-up of it:)

Irene,
That's why it's like a dream...but it honestly does exist -google it, and you'll find out:):)

crochet lady said...

That is such a beautiful and interesting flower and a lovely rendering of such a unique bloom. It just seems like a flower that begs to be touched.

Jeannette StG said...

Stephanie,
That does not surprise me -knitters have a good eye for details, because they read patterns:)
Next time you go to Hawaii, send me a pic of the Protea you saw, okay?
When the flower is still in the bud-stage, it doesn't look at all like the flower in full bloom.

Twain,
Hmmm, I'm thinking that they might have tweaked it (maybe added the butterfly, or the figure within the heart)...thanks for getting back to me!!

Unknown said...

Like the flower, but sadly will not see it in my neck of the woods. The painting will do just fine for now!

Anya said...

Dat is een mooie bloem
PRACHTIG :))
Kunstwerk ,
mijn complimenten ..

Fijn weekend
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya :)

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
Even here in California I have not seen or heard about the Protea, so whenever I get to Hawaii (wishful thinking -smile)...glad you like the painting!

Anya,
Do you realize how big this flower is? (24 by 24 inches, vermenigvuldigd by 2.5 voor centimeters!). Glad you like it:) Een fijn weekend toegewenst!

Diane AZ said...

I've never seen a protea either. I guess they wouldn't grow in the desert since it gets too hot. Your painting is so beautiful and dreamy!

penny said...

The colors of the flowers are divine.

Jeannette StG said...

Diane,
Yes, it probably needs some more humidity:) Thank you, Diane -this one was a fun one to paint!

Pam,
Thank you, you must like fiery colors!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jeannette: BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Jeannette StG said...

Tom,
Thank you, it was fun to paint this one.
Bytheway I forgot to tell you on your blog that you must be so proud of your son the choir director! Not any band gets to go to Europe!!

Delwyn said...

Hi Jeanette

I loved your protea paintings. I have photographed them a number of times for my blog...they love to grow here.
My last ones like yours were so feathery and fluffy, just marvellous plants and they are so ancient and also so many varieties, that is why they are called protea. Proteus was a God who could change form at will.
If you are interested in them you can always search poteas on my blog.

happy days

Ebie said...

Beautiful painting! I have never seen this flower before.

Jeannette StG said...

Dalwyn,
Oh, I had no idea - thank you! I'll have to peruse your blog sone time to look up some of your protea photos!

Ebie,
Thank you, Friend@ Never saw one in the USA where I live (although they seem to be in Hawaii), or in Europe:)

A Lady's Life said...

so pretty:)

Jeannette StG said...

A Lady's Life
Thank you, friend! Have a good weekend:)