Splash of Colour

    I was feeling quite inspired last night to sit for a moment and make a quick painting/sketch of the amaryllis given to me by dear friends just before the holidays... 

    When I first received the potted plant, the amaryllis had two short stalks, only 4-5 inches tall, they were potted along with white cyclomen and a pretty little fan-shaped, fern-like evergreen. Not knowing what to expect from the amaryllis shoots and being aware of my tendency to under/over water plants I sat the pot on the kitchen table in the light of the big Southern exposure window and hoped for the best.

    I was shocked at the rate of growth over the next few days!  You could almost see the stalks growing and stretching upward. Within a week they had tripled their height and the buds looked ready to burst.  Within the next week the largest of the two buds split and revealed four flower buds each falling outward like points on a compass.  By evening that day one of the blooms had already opened to reveal the most beautiful coral orange bloom.  Within the next week all four flowers opened and the other stalk/bud followed suit and brought forth four more gorgeous blooms! 

    I took photos of the blooms but something kept nagging at me to sit and try to capture them in watercolours... So after a few moments of quick pencils strokes followed by those of a brush, I feel I captured an essence of the blooms intensity and prettiness amidst the the hasty wet-on-wet splashed and dashed brushstrokes:
  

"Amaryllis"

(watercolour, 9x12")

    I did a brief research of the amaryllis and found that the flower represents determination and radiant beauty that comes from within and shines outwardly...  That brought to mind the bible passage in 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 3 and 4: "Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

    

    My hope is that all of God's daughters will be inspired to learn from the amaryllis and be determined to grow upward and let the radiant beauty of their hearts be continually nurtured by God's Word through study and obedience that they may truly reflect God's light into the world.   

    ♥ Cath-