Always in search of a project, my medium of choice may be paints and a brush, but the surface can vary quite extensively depending on my latest inspiration. This time, my success criteria called for dupioni silk pillows! Transfixed by the parrot tulip - and it's tiger-like stripes and lion's mane edge, I knew this would be the focus of my composition. I absolutely love the extensive range of colors and species. When creating a thumbnail sketch, the hardest decision consistently seems to be narrowing to which variant suites my interest in the moment. Although this time around, my decision was dictated by the established color-way of fabrics within my room. Smitten with corals and celery, this occasion would call for complimentary colors with bold pops for interest.
Parrot Tulips have petals that are feathered, curled, twisted, or waved. Besides this, the flowers are very large and brightly coloured. As a result, Parrot Tulips are extremely flamboyant. If you want dramatic tulips, these are a great choice.
Parrot Tulips were developed from mutations of certain late-flowering tulips, and from tulips in the Triumph class.
http://www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Tulip10Parrot.html
Although tulips are often associated with the Netherlands, they are not a native Dutch flower! About four hundred years ago Europeans first discovered tulips in Turkey. At that time Carolus Clusius, a famous botanist, introduced the plant to the Leiden botanical gardens in Holland. Since tulips were extremely rare, and expensive, only Kings and Emperors could afford to plant them in their gardens. http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artdec06/bj-tulip1.html
A customized touch is to identify the flower on a sweet call-tag, or add your monogram with interlocking script.
After completing two distinctive companion executions, a finishing touch was needed to deliver the closure kiss. TRIM! A visit to the Design Center actually brought more challenge than anticipated to this decision. The many beautiful choices evoked artist’s excitement like that of Christmas morning!!! (You, interior designers, can understand the feeling!) The finale, a very simple and tasteful two-toned trim was selected to deliver understated elegance as to not compete with the painting itself.
This was such fun, that I’ll soon be painting a pair of Wedgewood-blue silk pillows for my sister – in a style I dub: Chinoiserie Chic meets Palm Beach Bliss
The Painted Memory
www.thepaintedmemory.com
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