Lila's magical night garden

After starting this piece, I came to the realization that I need more color botanicals. Adding them to my flea market list. This started as an ordinary daytime scene but changed once I found the evening sky - a page proof from a children's picture book received back in the day when I wrote a syndicated children's book review column, and proof that I never throw anything out.

Speaking of that, the flowers are mostly from recycled publisher catalog covers, except for the small red fuschias that are about to bloom - they were snipped from a damaged color engraving in John Lewis Childs Catalogue of 1887 (below). It's the only page I have from any of his catalogs, which were renowned for their artwork, so it's precious. I'm parceling out the rest of the spectacular illustration in a number of pieces. 9.5" x 7.5" on archival mat board with pencil, ink and watercolor {SOLD}