My Watercolors

I have always enjoyed art...my undergraduate degree from Augustana College is in art/elementary education and my masters degree is in Elementary Science Education. So...it followed that when I began growing orchids, painting them seemed the natural thing to do. I am especially fond of painting masdevallias and pleurothallids from my basement growing room. During the years that I taught I seldom found the time to sit down and work on a watercolor. Retirement has changed all that! I find that I can work in an organized way...first, do a careful pencil study of the plant, followup with a soft wash of color, and finally work on details, light direction, areas of shadow and contrast. I have begun showing my paintings at orchid shows and they have been praised and have also received ribbons....most recently a special award at the Illowa Orchid Society Show of 2002 and a 3rd place at the Mid America/Illinois Orchid Society Show at the Chicago Botanical Center, October, 2002. I have branched out by putting my paintings on shirts...I will begin selling them at the Spring Illowa Orchid Society Show in March, 2004 at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa.


All of my original watercolors can be purchased as limited edition prints. Originals can also be purchased.


I have also produced greeting cards with blank interiors.....the following paintings are examples of the work that can be seen in the packets of 8 cards....each set contains an example of a different orchid.


All of the paintings below....and several others upon request....are available as originals and as limited edition prints.

Rhyncolaelia glauca

Masd. Copper Angel 'Highland' AM/AOS X Masd. glandulosa 'Nemo'

Lyc.Leo 'Riopelle' AM/AOS X (Jason x macrobulbon)

Masdevallia Prince Charming

watercolors and page by Marcia Whitmore

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