“A little piece of paradise” . . .

That’s the way that I’ve been thinking about my recent series of botanical paintings.  Have you ever come to the end of a fabulous vacation and wished that you could bring the place back home with you? Or at least a little piece of it to help you hold on to that feeling you had while you were there?

These paintings were inspired by photographs that I took during my travels to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands a few years ago. I was fascinated by the plant life on the island, exhibiting fantastic forms, colors and textures that are so different from what I’m using to seeing in the northeast or midwest of the United States. I especially like zooming in close to create bold compositions that emphasize the sculptural qualities of the plant forms.

Working on these images definitely helps me to reconnect with memories of those trips, and the relaxing sensation of being in an environment with warm sunny weather, beautiful beaches and lush, tropical plant life. Spending time with a little piece of paradise, that feeling stays with me even when my budget doesn’t allow me to travel there as often as I would like.