On a hot July day last summer I rode my bicycle down the hill where I live in Fairfax, California. I was out on my usual route, and after about an hour of riding I spotted a giant artichoke plant in someone’s front yard. I love artichokes - their shape, their texture, and their flavor. But there was something about how the midday sun was striking the plant that really caught my attention. There is a particular quality to summer light here in northern California. On a clear day, which is most days, the sun is transparent, like a watercolor wash. I noticed that the light was bringing out hidden colors in the plant, pinks and sage greens, deep reds and purples. It looked full of life. I took many photographs before I jumped back on my bike and made my way home.
Over the next couple of months I thought about painting the artichoke, and realized that I not only wanted to share the beauty of the plant, but also my experience with it: a hot summer day, bright light, fresh air, and the connection to the plant. I experimented with composition and decided that a larger-than-life close-up image in a large format (22x16 inches) would convey closeness and intimacy. I also cropped the image so it displays almost the entire flower head, but not all of it, plus parts of two leaves. Once I started painting, I was mindful of the way the light enhanced the colors and created deep shadows. I left some highlights unpainted, while the darkest shadows have several layers of opaque watercolor, creating the sharp contrast of light I saw that day.