Calla Lily

“Three Lavender Callas” © Jill Rosoff 2007

While reviewing the inventory chosen by curator Lynle Ellis for my upcoming show at her gallery Glimpse in San Diego, I found some pieces I’d not yet shown here, so they’ll be showing up here now and again.  

I try to paint flowers when they come in season, and sometimes the window of time is so short, I get maybe one done and poof!  they’re gone.  So it is with callas.  I found these lavender callas at Trader Joe’s one day.  I couldn’t believe the color.  As much as I love the creamy white ones my neighbor grows and I enjoy as I pass by them, these were pretty smashing, and I love lavender.  The issue became how best to articulate that gorgeous single spiral of the one glorious petal as it opens up and unveil the stamen inside.  When I finished this one I realized how much it felt like an ode to Georgia O’Keefe’s work, looking so monumental in this small format.