Still-life with Pineapple - Painting by Sarah Myers

Still-life with Pineapple, Sarah Myers

In this large still-life are combined a handsome pineapple, an exuberant vase of red clay, a pair of early oranges from our own orange tree, and two solemn red pears. Shape echoes shape and colours mirror colours in smaller and larger forms. The spheres of the oranges imitate the rotund base of the pottery; the outline of the more prominent pear reflects the upright body of the pineapple, though its colour – apart from the brown tones that describe its softer, natural substance - is very similar to the earthenware pot.

This painting is in acrylics. The vase is a rendering of a hand-built ceramic by my sister Amy Myers.

Still-life with Pineapple, Sarah Myers.  Detail.

Still-life with Pineapple, detail.

Still-life with Pineapple, Sarah Myers
Detail

Bright Afternoon Bouquet - Photography by Sarah Myers

Brilliant Flowers
Photography by Sarah Myers

A small cluster of flowers becomes a flaming torch of joyful colour in the afternoon sunlight.  The simple vase with a brown-black "volcanic" glaze was made by my sister Amy Myers.  It holds a cluster of ruby-red, orange, and orange-yellow nasturtiums, a bunch of scarlet pelargoniums (geraniums) and three cheerful tetraneuris daisies.  These - the yellow daisies at the top - came from Amy's desert garden, while the other blooms are from my pots of flowers in the patio.

Cluster of Flowers
Photography, Sarah Myers

Nasturtium Detail
Photography, Sarah Myers

Bright Bouquet in Afternoon Light
Photography, Sarah Myers

Three Favorite Flower Pictures - Photography by Sarah Myers

The Red Ranunculus, Sarah Myers
Digital Photography

Here are three flower images to welcome the new spring; the rich, flawless scarlet of a superb ranunculus bloom, the angelic shower of jasmine trumpets lighting the evening shade, and the perfect symbol of happiness, a yellow daisy against a cloudless blue sky.  Daisy and ranunculus are growing in my sister's garden, a dream-like spot you can read about here; the jasmine is a vine I've placed in the pillared patio of our house.

Trumpets of Spring, Sarah Myers
Digital Photography

Yellow and Blue, Sarah Myers
Digital Photography

Vase with a Rearing Horse - Art by Sarah Myers

Terracotta Vase with Horse, Sarah Myers

A rearing horse forms the forward part of this small vase in red earthenware.  Light-heartedly in the spirit of ancient art such as the old Persian rhytons, the container was created as a present for my sister.  I have placed a cluster of brilliant flowers - nasturtiums, geraniums (pelargoniums) and a coral-coloured rose - into its wide mouth.  This burst of scarlet, salmon, flame orange and deep yellow glows with intensity in the morning sunlight, matching the strong, natural red of the clay and the energy of the pawing, snorting horse.

Vase with Horse, Sarah Myers

Yellow nasturtiums and red geraniums in Vase with a Rearing Horse
Art and Photography by Sarah Myers

Bright Flowers Light a Dim Day - Photography by Sarah Myers

Bright Bouquet, Sarah Myers
Photography

     On an overcast day, these bright colours came inside - simply a yellow rose, a dark red rose, cherry-coloured geraniums, some orange lantana. In a graceful vessel by my sister Amy Myers, they bring a vivid fistful of beauty to the room, like the music of trumpets and violins on an empty, still noon.

Flowers on a Dim Day, Sarah Myers
Photography

Nature Inspires - Shell and Sun

Study of a Shell and Sun
Photography, Sarah Myers

A Red Primrose

Bright Red Primrose, Photograph   S. Myers

   Portrait of a primrose, bought cheaply - but could you imagine a happier face for a flower?
   An Expert Gardener here tells me primroses are considered cold-weather annuals here, due to the warm season's dry and heat.  I have placed my pot in the shade where I intend to plant the flower - I am drenching it from time to time with water and for now the weather remains a cool gray.  The primrose smiles at the sky and blooms.

Camellia Photograph

Perfect Flower, Camellia    S. Myers, Photograph  2013

The Yellow Orchids

Arch of Orchids    S. Myers, photograph 2013

   A glorious arch of orchid blooms on a plant given to me for Christmas.  They continue to flower,even as the first blossoms remain bright and whole...  They are distilled sunlight.

Still a Rose Photograph

Still a Rose

   The year is growing later, even in this place of sun and warmth.  Taken with my Canon at the end of November.

Visiting Bee

Fall Honey

The Three Gracefuls

Rose Trio

Rose and Sunlight

   I caught this vivid bloom holding very vivid afternoon sun.  I often position myself so light is behind the object I photograph, if it is consistent with the picture's detail and safety of the camera.  There is something melancholy about having my back to the daylight.  I prefer to face into the sun toward a brilliantly lit subject...

Fan Palms

Op Art Palm 18

Op Art Palm 6

   Fan palms are Art Deco of the plant-world: brash, vigorous, bright.  The strength of their effect comes largely from the size and rigid forms of the vivid leaves, and a slight anthropomorphic character from the way they stand with these leaves held like outspread hands.  Standing beneath several half-grown specimens, I photographed the intense sun through their geometric foliage and came the closest to producing Op Art I have (or ever will) come...

Op Art Palm Stripe

Op Art Palm Ogee

Op Art Palm 9