Four purple iris

Silk dye on silk. 12 x 12in.

I have a clump of purple iris growing in my garden. Every year they bloom briefly. The iris are a wonderful deep purple, the leaves spiky and bright green. The form of the flowers and leaves is very strong and satisfying.

My silk painting is built up in layers. Gutta (a gum used as a resist), has been used as a resist. I have started the piece by using blobs of colour, and have then slowing built up the shapes drawing with gutta rather than with a pen, charcoal or pencil.