White Scabiosa No. 4 Original Contemporary Floral Painting by Susan Havens

Details

Description

White Scabiosa is part of my contemporary botanical series, exploring flowers through their simplest forms—an impression of what we remember … Read more White Scabiosa is part of my contemporary botanical series, exploring flowers through their simplest forms—an impression of what we remember rather than exactly what we see. I began this painting with a quick mental snapshot: a full vase of delicate white flowers, airy and abundant, almost floating in light. From there, I let the paint capture the essence of the arrangement.

The Flowers: Scabiosa, also known as pincushion flowers, have raised, rounded centers surrounded by delicate petal fringes. Their slightly irregular, lace-like silhouettes give them a wonderful sense of lightness. Gathered together in abundance, the flowers become a soft cloud of white, with individual blooms appearing and disappearing into the composition.

Color: The palette is intentionally simple—soft ivory and white against a clear, muted teal background. The teal provides a visual foundation for the airy flowers, grounding the composition as though the blossoms might otherwise float away. The contrast creates a fresh, modern, light-filled impression.

Texture: Spray paint creates much of the illusion. Fine speckles, scattered droplets, and delicate areas of overspray suggest the feathery edges of petals without actually painting them. Some areas are more defined, while others dissolve into the background. I find this unpredictable interaction with the paint especially interesting; the texture often creates something more complex than I could have planned.

Vessel: A classical white urn with softly curved handles anchors the arrangement. Its substantial, rounded form provides a sculptural contrast to the weightless flowers above. The edges are intentionally diffused, allowing the vessel to remain part of the atmospheric composition rather than a precisely defined object.

This painting is about abundance without complexity—reducing a full arrangement of flowers to light, shape, and texture. It captures a fleeting impression of a floral still life, where the suggestion of petals and the simplicity of color create something both familiar and distinctly contemporary.

Specifications
• Type: Original painting, signed on the back
• Medium: Spray paint and ink on Birsol paper, unframed
• Year: 2026
• Artist: Susan Havens
• Size: 18" x 24"
• Color Palette: Muted Teal, Soft Ivory, Cream, and White

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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