Annabel Hydrangea

Before she moved, my friend Becky gave me a small cutting she had started from her favorite hydrangea. It seems to like being in our front yard. This summer it has doubled in size and number of blooms. While I have always thought of myself as a blue hydrangea type of person, these big snowballs have won my heart. This should not surprise me. In my artwork, I gravitate towards pale fabrics, creamy laces and mother-of-pearl buttons. I love the challenge of creating contrast and texture within such a narrow range of values. Look closely at this photo and you will see so much more than white. There are grays, ivorys and yellows. Because the colors are so subtle, the multitude of curving petals takes precedence. Texture is the belle of this ball...er...snowball.