The Buckthorn Cactus, botanically known as Cylindropuntia acanthocarpia, is a native of the Sonoran Desert. It’s flowers are yellow or red with shades in between that bloom in spring. The cane-like stalks are covered with thorns and grow in tangled clumps in dry, arid landscape. The flowers are quite showy and bees love ’em.
The cactus grows not far from the house in Arizona. The media, casein is new to me. Totally opaque, it’s quite different from the watercolor with which I’m familiar. It’s like gouache. a lot easier than watercolor, it has a very different look and feel, very graphic an illustrative, less touchy feely.
Bee and Cactus, 2018, watercolor, 8×6″, copyrighted with all rights reserved by Jean Krueger
BZZZZZ.
$25. USD
https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/jean-krueger/bee-and-cactus/709671
Mexican Fence Post Cactus – Pachycereus marginatus, pastel on hardboard, 20×16″, 2018, copyrighted with all rights reserved by Jean Krueger
The Mexican Fence Post is a species originating in Central Mexico. These grow to heights of 12 or more feet and have a diameter of 3 to 8″. Its star-shape cross section can have from 5 to 9 points..its thorns are far less vicious than other species of cacti. Flowers are pink-yellow or green-yellow. When planted side by side they make an effective fence. They like it hot, tolerate afternoon shade and are hardy to zone 9 (28 Deg F overnight).
I think they’re marvelous.
Detail – Mexican Fence Post Cactus – Pachycereus marginatus
Cactus Detail, pastel on board, 6×8″, 2018, by Jean Krueger, copyrighted with all rights reserved
The Desert Botanical Garden is beginning it’s spring bloom.
Perfect Cactus, Hard and Soft Pastel, 6×6″, 2017, Jean Krueger Fine Art, copyrighted with all rights reserved
I’ve been painting larger paintings for the last several weeks. Im going to paint a short series of smaller works for a few days.
This cactus lives at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ. I would live in that garden if they’e let me. It’s hot heaven on earth.
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/776743http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/776743
Detail, Pertfect Cactus
Violet Prickly Pear, 2017, Soft and Hard Pastel,20×16″, Jean Krueger Fine Art, copyrighted with all rights reserved
This plant is too pretty not to paint. It is backlit with the late afternoon sun, painted from a photo taken at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ.
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/775710
Detail, Violet Prickly Pear
Detail, Violet Prickly Pear
Symmetrical Asymmetry – Cactus, Pastel on Board, 16×20″, 2017, by Jean Krueger, copyrighted with all rights reserved.
This plant grows in a traffic median close to where I stay. I’ve been watching it over the years and it’s grown large and gnarly. I don’t know the name of the species but continue to search for it.
Cacti are generally quite symmetrical in their growth patterns. This example tries to defy that truism with it’s asymmetrical branching. However, the undulating surface of the branches, while not symmetrical, follows in a pattern which repeats somewhat symmetrically. I find that feature fascinating.
Detail
Detail
Jean Krueger Fine Art 