Homage to the Honey Bee

Mar 13

The Southern California drought has changed the neighborhood landscape. The vast flower gardens that once flourished and were fodder for my floral paintings have become more sparse. The dry weather, plus local water restrictions, dictate more drought-resistant landscapes of packed dirt, stone or turf. Logically, these changes will gradually begin to alter the local ecosystem. If flowers vanish, then the creatures that flourish from their nectar will also transition. These observations inspired the painting, “Lavender Candy”. The purple stalks of lavender flowers in my front yard are buzzing with bees during spring and summer. Watching these fascinating yellow and black floating creatures make me sentimental about their continued presence as the landscape changes. Amongst essential insects on earth, their pollination beautifies and contributes to floral growth. The growth of florals, in turn, creates habitats for other animals, such as hummingbirds. This work not only depicts the relationship between flowers and bees but is also a homage to their importance in our environment.

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Christine O'Brien

Christine’s proclivity to draw began at age five after helping her artistic mother render portraits of her siblings. She received a scholarship to study fine art at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she completed a rigorous program of classical instruction. During her junior year, Christine was selected as the sole recipient for an independent study in advanced experimental drawing and painting with Gardiner McCauley, head of the art college. Her final project, a five-foot square mixed media portrait was installed in the college reception area and published in the curriculum catalog. After graduating, Christine worked in her hometown of Chicago as a graphic designer and illustrator. Recruited to a large photography turnkey operation as a creative director and sales representative, she thrived in a career of both art and marketing. Christine moved west in the early 90’s, where she studied acrylic and oil painting at UCLA. Her affinity to paint the figure blossomed into a career as a portraiture artist. In recent years, she has drawn from both her imagination and surroundings to create imagery that combines her traditional training with a modern edge. These works include lone figures amid simplified landscapes, and enlarged depictions of secondhand collectables. She describes her work as scenes that capture a mood of beauty and contemplation. Christine lives and works in the Denver area and is collected throughout the US and abroad.

http://www.christineobrien.com