amaryllis

Arches HP 300 gsm, 14" x 10".

nothing like botanicals to take one's mind off portrait studies.

every year jan gets a vase of amaryllis bulbs from my parents, and they bloom in the weeks before christmas.

this was a drawing recreation and i did not spend a lot of time on it. the background is phthalo turquoise, one coat; and red stripes were mixed with venetian red and quinacridone red.

these are lovely, regal blossoms; there is a charming tradition of renaissance madrigals where they symbolize a beautiful woman.