The Intimate Forest

A Celebration of the Beauty of Nature in Oil Paintings by Harlan

 

 

Blue Hostas

30x40 2003 $6,000

Giclee Prints available

 

Hostas are a garden plant that thrive in my rather shaded yard. Over the years I have tried to collect as many varieties of hostas as I am able to find. The colors of this particular blue hosta and the graceful patterns formed by its leaves delighted me so I had to paint it.

This was the first of several monochromatic paintings I have done over the years and, truthfully, it was quite frustrating. Aside from taking a month to complete I became what I refer to as "painting blind", a state in which I am no longer capable of viewing the work objectively and focus too greatly on what I have failed to achieve. When I finished this painting I quite literally hated it. It took me months before I could over come that feeling. Now this is one of my favorite paintings.