Description
Hand-Painted Botanical Art from the Garden
Inspired by the resilient coneflowers (Echinacea) growing in my home garden, this original coneflower watercolor painting celebrates both the structured detail of pen-and-ink sketching and the fluid spontaneity of watercolor paint.
Every summer, these bold orange and purple blooms attract pollinators to the garden. After protecting this specific bunch from local garden bunnies, I sat down outdoors to paint them directly from life, capturing their energetic cones and delicate, drooping petals.
Original Coneflower, Watercolor Painting – The Artistry & Technique
Unlike traditional botanical illustrations made with rigid waterproof lines, this piece was created using a classic Jackson Stub #442 dip pen and water-soluble Diamine Ancient Copper ink.
When soft watercolor washes touch the warm brown ink, the linework gently dissolves and bleeds into the paint layer. This technique creates natural, deep shadow tones and velvety gradients across the petals, while the central orange cone remains bright, textured, and punchy.
Specifications & Materials
- Title: Garden Coneflowers (Echinacea)
- Medium: Non-waterproof dip pen ink (Diamine Ancient Copper) and professional-grade artist watercolor
- Paper Surface: Premium 100% cotton Saunders Waterford cold-pressed 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper with deckled/trimmed edges
- Dimensions: 10″ x 13″ / 25.4 x 33 cm
- Framing: The listed price is for the unframed painting. Custom framing is available by request; please contact me before purchase to discuss framing options.
- Signature: Signed on front right corner; titled and dated on back
Shipping & Care Instructions
- Packaging: Shipped flat in a heavy-duty protective sleeve with rigid backing boards to prevent bending during transit.
- Care: Painted with professional archival pigments. To preserve colors for decades, display behind UV-protective glass away from direct, harsh sunlight.
Read More About This Painting
Want to read more about the creation of this coneflower painting? Visit the related blog post for the story behind the artwork.
The listed price is for the unframed painting. Custom framing is available by request; please contact me before purchase to discuss framing options.
Living by the sea inspires P.J. to paint the rolling surf, shorebirds, and ever-changing skies along the coast. She paints along Connecticut’s Long Island Sound and Florida’s southeastern shore. 
