STORY BEHIND THE ART OF HEEYOUNG KIM

19th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists & The Horticultural Society of New York

Large Yellow Lady’s Slipper

Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens

Some years ago, a fairly old lady approached me after she saw my paintings at an exhibition. She 'confessed' that a bunch of Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids thrive in her back yard. I was invited to see them. My jaw dropped, completely! They were so beautiful! I started to study them right away, but it was a bit too late. Soon, the flowers got brown spots. I was determined to study them very closely during the rest of the season. The lady's German shepherd was getting used to me in the meantime.  

I had a good amount of drawings, and more than enough studies, not to mention hundreds of photos taken from every possible angle. However I could not start to paint. I needed more time. I needed to get to know the Lady's Slipper better. During the next fall and winter, the sketches and photos lingered in my head until I decided on the composition. Early that spring, she carefully potted a couple of plants so I could observe the blooming process closely. Without her kind support, I could never have captured the most beautiful line and shape of this unique and rare plant. 

In the meantime, she lost her husband due to Alzheimer’s disease, had to give away her beautiful German shepherd, and moved out from the house, leaving her wonderful collection of native plants behind, including many Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchids. Knowing that they might not thrive when transplanted, she didn't want to take the orchids with her. The specimens she had potted for me were replanted in my friend's back yard. 

A piece of the beautiful life of a lady is immortalized in this painting of Lady's Slipper Orchid. I thank her greatly. 

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Read more about this artist’s work: 16th Annual International