Grass Widow

Watercolor on Arches cold pressed paper

7 x 10 inches with a half inch border

2024

Original watercolor painting of Olsynium douglasii in its natural habitat. I am inspired by the late winter blooms of the Grass widow in the Columbia river gorge. I set out to capture it's striking beauty against the stark basalt cliffs and overwintered dried grasses.

Olsynium douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the iris family. Common names include Douglas' olsynium, Douglas' grasswidow, grass-widow, blue-eyed grass, purple-eyed-grass, and satin flower, It is the only species in the genus Olsynium in North America, the remaining 11 species being from South America.

If you've ever experienced the grass widow bloom then you know what a welcome sight it is to see such beauty after a long, windy winter in the gorge- One of my happy places! Many hours and light layers of watercolor went in to this spectacular little piece to capture that feel of the bright winter sun drenching the hillside.