Hellebore II

A hellebore rising on a long, slender stem.

Where the first hellebore remains close to the earth, this flower reaches upward—its delicate bloom held above the weight of the winter garden.

Painted in watercolour and ink, the work follows the elegant line of the stem before arriving at the intricate structure of the flower. Fine ink marks describe its form, while transparent washes of green, mauve and soft white capture the subtle colour held within the petals.

There is a quiet tension within the painting: the apparent fragility of the bloom and the strength required to hold it aloft.

This is a study of balance. Of remaining rooted while continuing to reach. Of tenderness and resilience existing within the same form.

Created in the English Lake District, it is an invitation to consider the kind of strength that does not harden, but rises gently and holds its place.