Carolyn Bye

Description

Carolyn Bye, Entwined embrace 2024, watercolour on Arches cotton paper. Image courtesy the artist.

Artist’s Statement:

This watercolour, Entwined Embrace is an exploration of my orchid cactus during blooming season. I observe as new flower buds start to grow and gradually mature into elegant blooms. This cactus hybrid blooms at night with the flowers lasting a few days, after which they are quickly spent and hang lifeless. I?ve painted the same stem sections of this plant several times, each time different, showing the subtle and dramatic changes in the growth of buds, full and spent blooms. I?m captivated with an orchid cactus bloom as it leads up to flowering, its twisting gestural qualities are a delight to observe.