Crocus 2015

Bernadette Resha made this watercolor painting, “Crocus,” sometime around 2015, and it’s a great example of what can happen when you let the process lead. The way the light blue washes in the background, almost like a child’s drawing of the sky, sets such a nice tone, doesn't it? You can really see the hand of the artist in those marks, which is something I always appreciate. It's interesting to notice how Resha uses color to define form, especially in the petals. The way she blends the reds and purples gives them a real sense of depth. Up close, the petals are made up of these individual strokes, almost like she's building the flower, layer by layer. It kind of reminds me of some of the early botanical illustrations, but with a more playful, modern sensibility. It’s like Resha is saying, “Here’s a flower, but it’s also a painting, and it’s okay if it looks a little wonky.” You know?