Description

Joy, Lotus Blooms and Buds
30×60 oil on canvas
$12,000.

Collection: Wanderings

Last summer, my pal Veronika and I hopped on a plane to visit our dear friend Deana near Santa Barbara, California. We were on a mission: see cool plants, taste wine, see more cool plants, see the ocean, see cool plants.

We had the distinct privilege of touring Lotusland in Montecito, a beautiful private botanical wonderland. This was the first time I had visited while the lotuses were blooming. It was magical, except the sun never came out to illuminate their colors. For me, for my art, light is everything. We were at the perfect place at the wrong time; such is life. It was a lesson in just being in the moment and letting expectations go.

Later in the trip, after a wonderful visit to the Santa Barbara Art Museum, the sun came out. Our host was gracious enough to take us to one of her favorite nurseries, Seaside Gardens. This place is very much like a mini botanical garden with glorious plantings around every corner, and they have a pond with lotus plants that were blooming in glorious light!

What a gift.

Sometimes things don’t happen the way you think they are going to happen. Dare I say, most of the time they don’t. Sometimes the special place you are dreaming about is not at a fancy grand garden. Sometimes a special place is in front of a beautiful painting that took a lifetime to paint and a moment to notice.

I hope this painting gives you that kind of moment. Glorious light and color on a warm sun-filled afternoon in California with friends.