Story behind the art of Mitsuko Schultz

28th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art & Garden Center

Coral Sunset Peony

Paeonia ‘Coral Sunset’

In the spring of 2022 I was in Portland, Oregon and of course I also made my way to the Adelman Peony Gardens in Salem, not too far from Portland. I have always wanted to visit there but they are only open for less than two months each year, during the spring peony blooming season. I could not miss out on this opportunity. When I first painted a peony, about ten years ago, I was also doing research about this flower and that’s when I discovered the Adelman Gardens. Adelman, a commercial peony grower, is very well known among peony enthusiasts. 

When I arrived at the gardens, I was quietly screaming with joy because so many beautiful peonies were blooming on their thirty acres of peony fields! I’ve never seen so many in one place in my life. I was overwhelmed! They grow well over 500 varieties, and I would recommend that anyone who loves the flower should visit this amazing grower.

I have painted several varieties before, always having a single stem as my focus. This time I wanted to do something different. At first, I wanted to paint many peonies as I saw them in the Adelman fields but that proved too difficult for me. So, I decided to paint them as if blooming in a garden.

I chose the coral sunset peony as my subject because I have painted pink peonies before and this time I wanted to paint a different color. This peony starts with its emerging petals a dark pinkish coral color and then, as it continues to bloom, it progresses through lighter shades of coral and finally, to ivory. In my painting I wanted to express these various stages.

I mainly used watercolor pencils, mostly dry, but sometimes I also wet the watercolor pencils and used them as a palette for a brush. I also used some oil-based colored pencils.  

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist's work: 26th Annual