Collard Greens, Watercolor

Title: Collard Greens | Medium: Watercolor on Paper

This watercolor painting is composed of layered color shapes that look abstract up close, but as you step back, the recognizable forms of this well-known vegetable appear. I love to spend time in the garden observing as plants progress through various stages of development. Almost everything flowers eventually. 

Garden vegetables are an inspiration in my studio, and also the kitchen. I love the way the thick green leaves of collards grow. They seem so large and sturdy, yet they're soft and velvety to the touch. Translucent little window panes separated by light green veins are illuminated creating beautiful patterns. It's those patterns, along with its spiraling stalks that captured my attention in this painting.

How many shades of green are there? I'm pretty sure it is infinite. Working with these vegetables and observing them brings me into a state of wonder. That's the secret ingredient that makes painting so delicious.

Leslie Montana