Introducing "Dwarf Lake Iris," a vibrant and detailed illustration capturing the essence of a rare and beautiful floral specimen. This piece measures 11x10 inches and is rendered in colored pencil on black paper, allowing the rich hues and delicate details to stand out strikingly against the dark background.

The composition focuses on the intricate beauty of blue flowers, each petal composed of rich blue tones, accented with touches of light blue and yellow highlights. The center of the flowers features captivating pops of white cradling orange strips, adding depth and complexity to the piece. Surrounding the flowers, green leaves and stems intertwine seamlessly, providing a vivid contrast that enhances the overall realism and stylized beauty of the work.

The inspiration for this artwork comes from the artist’s encounters with the Dwarf Lake Iris, a rare and delicate flower found nestled between cropped-out rock ledges along the Bay of Green Bay in Wisconsin. Being part of the North East Wisconsin Land Trust Preserves, these flowers are a testament to nature's hidden gems that demand preservation and appreciation. This piece was notably featured in the Waters Edge Artists "Art of Preservation" exhibit in 2019 at the Rahr West Museum in Manitowoc, where it celebrated the natural beauty of these rare flowers and the importance of environmental conservation.

Creating this artwork involved a unique process of capturing the precise interplay of light and color to bring out the intricate details of the flora. The use of colored pencil on black paper required meticulous layering and blending to achieve the vibrant hues and realistic textures that make the Dwarf Lake Iris come alive on paper. The result is a breathtaking and poignant reminder of the fragility and beauty of our natural world.