Story behind the art of Karen Kluglein

28th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art & Garden Center

Tazetta

Narcissus papyraceus

I painted this tazetta paper-white narcissus bulb following the completion of my work, “Beach Plum Jam.” That painting was large, and I depicted the plums larger than life size. It took a long time to paint and took me out of my comfort zone because I usually portray subjects close to life size.

After “Beach Plum Jam” I wanted to work on something the complete opposite and chose a subject small and detailed: something where I could just relax and lose myself in the details. I especially enjoyed painting the subtle shifts in color, showing the fleshy innermost part of the bulb, the flaking layers, and pale green shoots. I also found joy in painting the various textures ranging from the dry roots and the crisp transparent layers around the bulb to the new growth at the top.

When I worked on this painting I had recently seen the Rory McEwen exhibition A New Perspective on Nature, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. After seeing his work in person (which I of course loved), I was inspired to crop this painting differently. I positioned the bulb towards the bottom right which I think makes it feel a bit weightier and more interesting. I hope you think so too! 

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist's work: BAWW 2025