Protea Petals in a Vase by Gaylotta Murray

Gaylotta Murray

Protea Petals in a Vase, 2026

Digital (Procreate)

A digital collage layering a photograph of protea blooms with bold graphic elements — white botanical silhouettes, translucent geometric frames, and a vibrant field of electric greens, purples, and yellows. The vase resolves into a simple dark sphere, grounding the composition's exuberant chaos in quiet stillness. This is part of my autography line where I paint over select photographs

This piece is very special to me. It was our first cruise to the Canary Islands. We stopped in Maderia, where we walked the streets of an open market. I was drawn to a large pot of beautiful flowers that looked very familiar. I admired them for a minute then asked the owner what they were and she said Proteas. These were the flowers in my wedding bouquet 43 years ago.