‘Elegance In Bloom’ Decorates The American Orchid Society During January January 5, 2009

Delray Beach, Fla. – “There is a painting in every petal.”

That is the artistic credo that has led acclaimed watercolorist Sally Robertson to feature roses, irises and other beloved perennials from her northern California garden in her paintings throughout the years.

“But it is the orchid work,” she said, “that transports me to another world.”

After a friend introduced Robertson to orchids about 15 years ago, the artist has painted them in any number of dynamic ways -- from botanical studies to still life subjects in pots to blooms bursting from backgrounds suggestive of their natural environment.

“A whole new visual vocabulary opened up,” Robertson said. “One of fascinating plants from all over the world, which I have been pursuing ever since.”

Art lovers will be able to see some of these stunning and realistic paintings firsthand at the American Orchid Society’s exhibit, “Elegance in Bloom – The Watercolors of Sally Robertson,” which runs Jan. 5 through Feb. 1.

The exhibit, brought to AOS from San Francisco, is free and open to the public. A reception featuring light refreshments is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 9. On display will be Robertson’s larger-than-life portraits of orchids painted from inside her studio, from outside growing on cork oak logs or potted in colorful containers, chosen carefully to complement the color, pattern and shape of the blooms.

Robertson, who has taught watercolor workshops in such exotic locales as French Polynesia and the gardens of Provence in France, has developed an intuitive sense for mixing pigments.

“I have faith in the magic of watercolor and its inherent ability to describe nature most powerfully,” she said. Robertson is a member of the San Francisco Orchid Society and has designed the annual poster for the Pacific Orchid Exposition every year since 1996. Robertson said title of the AOS exhibit, “Elegance in Bloom,” speaks to her quest to approach orchids “with an eye to their most telling and gracious qualities.

“It is my goal,” she added, “to capture a special moment of their essence in watercolor, where they will always be elegant and in bloom.”
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY:
Headquartered in Delray Beach, the nonprofit (501[c][3]) American Orchid Society (AOS) is home to botanical gardens, a greenhouse adorned with blooming orchids that change continuously, the orchid emporium gift shop, reference library/archives, and a staff dedicated to orchid education through classes, lectures and programs.

With nearly 18,000 members around the world, the AOS is one of the largest special-interest horticultural organizations in the world. The AOS Visitors Center and Botanical Garden has also become a popular site for corporate meetings and special events, such as weddings and private parties.
The AOS facility and gardens are open to the public daily from 10 am – 4:30 pm. Regular admissions are $10 for adults and free for children under 12. Seniors 65 and older receive $1 off admission. The AOS Botanical Garden is located at 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446. For more information, please call 561-404-2000 or visit www.aos.org.

Official Website: http://www.aos.org