Minnesotans are well aware of Mother Nature’s perverse sense of humor. The arrival of Spring was preceded by several days of warm weather that melted much of the snow and the winter doldrums that everyone was experiencing: the sixth snowiest winter on record, 84 inches, was finally coming to an end. For the first time in over four months we could see the grass and flower beds. Minnesotans were smiling and there was a spring in there step.
However, no sooner did Spring arrive and Mother Nature delivered her punch line: icy rain, sleet, and five inches of snow: biddy-boom. Now we’ve got the fifth snowiest winter on record.
To resurrect my spirits, I worked on this picture of a crimson alpina purpurata that I took in Brazil. In Minnesota, these flowers are exotics that you get from the florist. In Brazil, they are lawn flora. This one was almost six foot tall.
There are several things that I like about this picture. First, and most obvious, is the brilliant red flower: its strong color and shape demand attention. Second, the leaves form a green curving mass that is strong enough to support the visual weight of the flower. Also, the leaves’ textures provide additional interest. Third, the shadows on the wall supply a dramatic backdrop that accentuates the flower but does not dominate it. The earthen colors of the background tie in with the greens of the foliage. The curves of the shadows also mirror those of the leaves.
This print is available for purchase in my store, or you can contact me by email.