Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Fascinatingly Beautiful


Orchid  watercolor 5x3" 

As I did a quick sketch of the orchid a few days ago using my water brush pen and sketch kit of limited paints, I vaguely remembered that the orchid varieties in number are almost double that of bird species. I went surfing to see if my recollection was right. 

My memory had served me well and  I also discovered that at 25,000+ species, there are four times more varieties of orchids as that of mammals!  More interesting was that 'the name comes from the Greek ὄρχις (órkhis), literally meaning "testicle", because of the shape of the root.'!  Greeks also thought if would-be fathers ate large new orchid tubers their child would be male and if mothers ate small tubers, the child would be female :)  The flavoring vanilla comes from one genus of Orchid -vanilla(of course). The Aztecs believed vanilla mixed with chocolate gave them great strength. In China however, orchids are a key ingredient in medicines for treating coughs and lung-related illnesses. It is also quite fascinating to read about pollination, propagation and seed production in orchids. Growing up in tropical India, I knew them as beautiful and colorful epiphytes and was fascinated how they grew on trees!  

I have a l wide collection of photos as well as few sketches of orchids and I hope to paint some larger varied flowers soon!

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Thats so pretty, so complex and yet so simple in the way you portrayed the single orchid stem. You are very artistic! I enjoyed reading about the orchids too!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Katherine - you made my day :) I am using the waterbrush pen to sketch and not use pencils and learning to do underpaintings and layering in my sketching. Orchids have such complex petals --I had to concentrate on one flower only to make it easy for me :)

B said...

Congrats meera. Bay Kallie is beautiful. that must be something.....a new baby wonder to hold :)

Love the vadais, the chutney int eh jar and the orchids, orangey goodness at its best

take care

Crystal Cook said...

WOW, that is a LOT of orchids! Your painting is so bright and beautiful, you've really captured this gorgeous flower well. :)))

Meera Rao said...

Crystal Cook has left a new comment on your post " Orchid watercolor 5x3" As I did a quick sketch ...":

WOW, that is a LOT of orchids! Your painting is so bright and beautiful, you've really captured this gorgeous flower well. :)))

Meera Rao said...

Crystal, I don't know why your comment was not showing up in the comments section or showing oddly only in my gmail!!!

But regardless, thank you so much for your feedback! I really appreciate it!

Meera Rao said...

Thanks B - Glad you like the orangy paintings :)And Yes Baby Kallie is a gorgeous wonder !

Anonymous said...

interesting information about orchids

also thanks for visiting my blog

irinapictures said...

Beautiful flower.
My orchid is in bloom now, despite my lack of attention and cold short days outdoors. I tried to paint it twice, but could not repeat its transparency and mystery.
This new comment checking feature in two blinded words is almost killing me)))

Meera Rao said...

Thanks and You are welcome :)

Meera Rao said...

Irina, Thank you ! I agree with you that to create Orchid's transparency and delicacy is very hard. I Think Google blogger has changed its ways again since i am finding that in so many other blogs too--I am going to look into changing how I do the comment section!!

Nayana said...

beautiful painting Meera...I also enjoy painting and have done few but recently not getting much time to do that...you are very creative...checked your other posts too...

padmaja said...

Some times balancing acts can be beautiful like this one :-).. it is a pleasure to see the way you brought out the life in it..Lovely Meera!

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Sadami said...

Hi, Meera,
Your work gets better and better! Also, your posts are quite interesting. They all show your lovely personality. Keep up!
Best regards,Sadami

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Nayana :) I truly appreciate your comments! I too have a hard time making time for art but am trying to start with at least five minutes --which most often than not fortunately turns into more when I cannot just put the brush down :)

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, thank you :) I love orchids --but most are so complicated in structure that I had to start with simplifying -that meant paint one flower :)

Meera Rao said...

Thank you so much Maribel :) I am grateful for your comments and you visiting my blog!

Meera Rao said...

Sadami, I am honored that you see improvement in my humble efforts :) Thank you so very much for your comments!

kala said...

Absolutely loved the orange blossom flower

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Kala :) I love orchids !

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