Native Lespedeza (Round-Headed Bush Clover) — not to be confused with the many invasive lespedeza species sold in the United States. Why bring in plants that didn’t evolve here when we already have such beautiful native varieties? This piece highlights the native round-headed bush clover, painted from a reference photo I took around twilight at the home of a local naturalist. He explained that as the plant matures, its blooms become even more prominent than those shown here.
The painting features thick, low-relief layers of acrylic paint that evoke the tangible, living presence of the plant, with soft bokeh light created by the sun filtering through the trees in the late day. The scale in this painting is accurate — the plant can grow up to six feet tall. Painted on deep gallery-wrapped canvas, varnished for protection, and ready to hang.