Pink Prickly Pears
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas board
- ready to frame
(painting has been modified - see entry for 8/8/07)
Yesterday's painting of pink "flowers" made me remember some amazing pink prickly pears I saw in Tucson, Arizona last February. That time of year is sort of "springtime" in the desert and there were some prickly pears that really were pink - or pinkish purple or purplishy pink - or all of the above! I couldn't believe it! A friend had recently been to Arizona and came back with photos of these pink beauties, but "seeing is believing." We visited the museum for Ted De Grazia - a great and very unique painter (and unique man!!!) who lived in Tucson. These were growing in a bunch of pots lined up against an adobe wall built by De Grazia. In fact, all the buildings in the entire compound were built by this wild and crazy desert guy. I wonder if he planted these pink jewels?
Again - I'm not sure I'm finished yet. I may work on the pot and the shadows a bit - but not too much. There's a saying in the painting world: "It takes two people to do a painting: one to paint and another to say stop!" I may just do a series of these pink prickly pears. Tomorrow I may try this with oils. Several times when I was painting with acrylics, I was thinking that I wish I could still blend. That's a new feeling to me. So maybe I'll see what I can do with these using oil paints - and maybe do another in acrylics that's even more exaggerated and funky!
It's still so amazing to me that prickly pears can be pink!! It's almost worth a trip to Tucson in the "spring" just to see these - and all the other wonders of that part of the world.
Life is beautiful!
I like the cone flowers and others with more "action", but then I have not seen pink prickly pears. I really love where your work is headed with more - more- well, more impressionist, for the want of a better term. No, pink prickly pears is not in that direction. It reminds me of much of your earlier work although it is somehow edgier with those balloons of pink creating the plant. Hmmmm. guess it's okay to say this is not my favorite of your Kansas work when I say I love most of your Kansas work,isn't it? Keep it up.
PS: did you know your spell check suggests "orgy" when "okay" is used? very interesting!
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Sharon - I appreciate any feedback and I'd be shocked if you weren't honest! This is a diversion from my recent paitings and I learned something from it. The more you get into doing your own art, the more you'll learn that some just aren't quite "there." That's part of the process. Some of my old collectors are wanting my "lollypop art." Interesting how times change. Thanks for your feedback- and I'm glad you like my new Kansas direction. I'm going to try a more impressionistic approach with the pink prickly pears. Who knows how that will turn out. Have a fun weekend!
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