Story behind the art of Connie Scanlon

27th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

Opening Night

Oreomecon nudicaulis

When I look at this piece and compare it to most of my completed works, two things could raise an eyebrow. First, it isn’t blue. In fact, my two friends (and favorite art critics) were more than mildly amused to see that I had painted a subject in my least favorite colors, those being yellow and orange. Secondly, this is not a subject that is way past its prime in good looks, but rather, it is just coming of age.

These two challenges were of equal intrigue as I contemplated whether to tackle this particular poppy. However, for some reason, I had already started to love it, or at least liked the challenge of getting outside of my little comfort zone.

This stem of Iceland poppy was part of a collective group of closed poppy calyxes I bought from a local wholesale florist. My purchase carried the two small risks of whether any would even open, and what color would appear from within the two tightly closed sepals of each calyx. Worth it.

Hours after fresh water and a new cut to the stems, a few poppies were waking up. A slit of yellow and another peek of ivory began to emerge. Throughout the day and night and night and day, I patiently waited for the “birth” of new poppies. The first few mornings I woke and saw the detritus of poppy sepals lying on the table. It was when I set an alarm and woke in the middle of the night, that I was able to capture this poppy at the critical state of open-ness with both sepals still attached. Opening Night.

I learned to appreciate the beauty of warm colors, even orange, while painting this poppy. The magic of nature quietly just carrying on brought an amazing wonder during this time of closely appreciating gradual changes.

The hues of orange were warm and wonderful to work with, but just for a while. Now I am more than ready for the beauty of what lies complementary across from orange on the color wheel, the electricity of beautiful blue.

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Read more about this artist's work: 26th Annual