flower art

Even More Pop

the reworked painting of purple and red fuchsia flowers
| Anna Cull
‘Fuchsia Pop’ acrylic on canvas, 225 x 305 mm, 2023. SOLD

I sometimes look at old paintings and see things I want to change. Usually, I leave them alone. Occasionally, I paint over them. With this one, I only intended to paint over a couple of leaves here and there ~ but once I got started…

First painted in 2020, ‘Fuchsia Pop’ has undergone quite a transformation (see comparison below). When I decided to paint over the leaves at the top and lower right, I also changed the colour of the background ~ which prompted me to change the colour of the petals and several other things that were annoying me ~ and here it is, an entirely new painting with even more ‘pop’.

It has been varnished with Gamblin Cold Wax Medium to give it a lovely velvety matte appearance. This is my first time using cold wax varnish and I absolutely love love love it.

2020 vs 2023

Spring Study

small acrylic painting study of pink blossoms, spring in New Zealand
| Anna Cull
a small acrylic painting study of pink blossoms, spring in New Zealand, by Anna Cull
Spring Study, acrylic on paper, 2022
  • a photo of a flowering plum tree in spring, New Zealand
  • a photo of a flowering plum tree in spring, New Zealand
  • a photo of a DIY cardboard viewfinder being used to crop a photo of spring blossoms
  • a photo of spring blossoms, New Zealand
  • a small acrylic painting study of spring blossoms by Anna Cull Art, New Zealand

The reference for this quick little painting was a photo taken using American artist Sister Corita Kent’s ‘finder’ method of using a DIY viewfinder to see the world one small piece at a time. It’s a very simple and very effective way of simplifying a scene to discover compositions that might otherwise not be obvious. And yes, once again the view outside my window (late August this year) has provided me with inspiration. 🌸 🌸 🌸

If you would like to learn more about artist, educator and activist Sister Mary Corita, I recommend starting with a visit to the Corita Art Center.

The World Looks Different Today

acrylic painting of pink blossoms against a blue sky background by Anna Cull
| Anna Cull
‘The World Looks Different Today’ acrylic on canvas, 155 x 305 mm, 2021. SOLD

Hi. It has been a few months since I posted anything here and I wanted to assure you that my social media silence is nothing to be concerned about. I am still here… I have been busy writing songs. My intention was to work on music and take a short break from painting for a month or so and, in the blink on an eye, it is now September and the first day of spring!

Yesterday I finally picked up a paintbrush again and this is what happened…

  • Photo reference
  • WIP 1
  • WIP 2
  • Final

Royals

acrylic painting of a monarch butterfly on white Queen Anne's Lace flowers by Anna Cull
| Anna Cull
‘Royals’ acrylic on canvas, 200 x 200 mm, 2021. SOLD

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust

My latest painting is a new, smaller version of a scene that I have painted once before. I find the image and the idea equally appealing ~ a monarch butterfly resting on Queen Anne’s Lace, as if by royal appointment.

Light and shade (and Happy Easter)

| Anna Cull

A Rose By Any Other Name — acrylic on canvas, 250 x 250 mm, 2019

“God bless our contradictions, those parts of us which seem out of character. Let us be boldly and gladly out of character. Let us be creatures of paradox and variety: creatures of contrast; of light and shade: creatures of faith. God be our constant. Let us step out of character into the unknown, to struggle and love and do what we will. Amen.”
—
‘A Note on God’ by Michael Leunig