Blue Hydrangeas No. 3 Contemporary Botanical Original Painting by Susan Havens

Details

Description

Hydrangeas are flowers I know so well. I have always thought of them as sculptural mounds in the landscape, rounded … Read more Hydrangeas are flowers I know so well. I have always thought of them as sculptural mounds in the landscape, rounded forms made up of hundreds of tiny flowers gathered together into something resembling a soft pillow. Light passes through the petals, reflects off their surfaces, and creates an ever-changing impression of color and shape.

In this painting, I wanted to capture a quick mental snapshot of hydrangeas—not the individual flowers, but the impression they leave in our minds. It is an expression of flowers rather than a botanical study, reducing their familiar shapes to something soft, luminous, and almost weightless.

The Color: A quiet palette of powder blue, soft ivory, and white creates a fresh, clean composition. The blue background provides a gentle contrast to the pale floral forms, allowing the arrangement to appear almost suspended in light. The limited colors emphasize the simplicity and modern character of the painting.

Texture is Spray paint as it plays an important role in creating the illusion of hundreds of tiny blossoms. Fine speckles, scattered droplets, and irregular areas of overspray suggest the intricate surface of a hydrangea without defining each flower. The paint's unpredictable nature creates delicate patterns and textures that feel spontaneous and organic.

A classical footed urn emerges softly beneath the flowers, its edges dissolving into the blue background. Rather than being precisely outlined, the vessel is suggested through light and shadow, becoming part of the overall impression.

This painting is part of my contemporary botanical series exploring how flowers can be reduced to their most essential forms. Soft, airy, and intentionally undefined, Blue Hydrangeas captures the feeling of flowers through an illusion of paint—modern, minimal, and inspired by nature.

Specifications
• Type: Original painting, one of one
• Medium: Spray paint and ink on Birsol paper, unframed
• Year: 2026
• Artist: Susan Havens
• Size: 18" x 24"
• Color Palette: Powder Blue, Soft Ivory, Cream, and White

––– Artist Bio ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Susan Havens is a New Orleans–based artist who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With over 27 years of experience as a graphic designer, art director, and creative director, her work reflects a refined understanding of composition, color, and visual storytelling.

Her artwork is held in private collections and has been placed in residences, private clubs, and hospitality environments by interior designers, and has been featured at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. See less