Calla Lilies Part 2

Calla Lily

The Light of the World

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Deep

12 x 16 x 1.5 inches

Sometimes the stories of the people who buy paintings are as interesting to me as the paintings themselves. In a previous post I shared the first in this series, titled "Faith, Hope and Love." To a lovely lady in New Zealand, the painting symbolized herself and her two friends. She commissioned a companion piece featuring a single large flower to remind her of the Lord, who was always with them on their journey through life.  Creating a composition to harmonize with another painting which was already halfway around the world was both inspiring and challenging. I wanted it to be similar in feeling, but with just enough difference to make it special and unique.   When the second painting was finally  shipped, I felt a touch of sadness. First, because the experience had been so rewarding, a part of me didn't want it to end, and second because I would never see the two paintings hanging together as they had been intended.  Fortunately Gabrielle took care of the second problem by taking a photo of the paintings as they were arranged.  

I love it!!!

These paintings have been sold, but there are many other paintings of flowers, animals and other subjects available through my Creative Spirit Gallery.  New work is added periodically. http://dellartistgallery.blogspot.com/

Calla Lilies, Philodendrons and Pig Lilies

Joy

Calla Lily
9 x 6 Pastel
Matted to 11 x 14

This small pastel with a horizontal format is available through my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery. It is matted and ready for the frame of your choice.

With its simple yet elegant blooms and long, stately stems, it is no surprise that the calla lily takes its name from a Greek word for beauty. You might be surprised to know, however that this flower is not a true lily. It was mistakenly identified somewhere in its past and is actually more closely related to the philodendron. It its native land it is known as "trumpet lily" or "pig lily." That is probably more information than you needed, but it does tend to support the view that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Faith, Hope, and Love

Calla Lily

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas  8 x 16

This painting was purchased by a lovely lady in New Zealand. To her, it represented herself and her two friends. She has also commissioned a companion piece of the same size to group with it. This will be a single calla lily, representing Jesus. Right now it is in the planning stage, but I will share it when it is finished.

Calla lilies traditionally represent faithfulness, joy, and rebirth and are often used in wedding bouquets as well as in Easter celebrations as a symbol of Christ's resurrection. For this painting I decided to use three of them simply because the composition fit the canvas,  but the the finished painting made me think of one of my favorite Bible verses,  1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." And so, the title, Faith, Hope and Love.  When everything else has disappeared and there seems to be nothing left, these three still remain. And when you have faith, hope and love, you have everything.

Today I pray that you have everything - Faith, Hope and Love!