The Encyclopedia Britannica was considered the apex of scholarly writing. The Eleventh Edition of 1918 was generally the most comprehensive of them all. Many years ago I saved these volumes from being given away or trashed. But in our current age, they are no more than century old relics. And consequently their elegantly gold stamped leather covers have become the foundation for a series of paintings.
Robert Kushner, Calla Lily, 2018
They grew behind Aunt Sylvia’s house, untended. These miraculous waxen blossoms appearing out of the deep green tropical foliage ever summer.
Robert Kushner, Euphorbia, 2018
This plant has been with me constantly for nearly forty years, blooming every year, by now growing considerably taller than me, and patiently providing prima donna blossoms for a myriad of paintings over the decades.
Robert Kushner, Petunia, 2018
Such ubiquitous and silly summer bedding flowers, but when you look at just one blossom with their conic form and ruffles, they are amazingly complex.
Robert Kushner, Sunflower, 2018
Any flower painter has to deal with Sunflowers and their intense association with van Gogh. It is a challenge to make them my own.