Cactus Crowd – Original Watercolor Painting

Cactus Crowd is an original watercolor painting by Ellen Jean Diederich featuring desert cacti.

Behind the piece: This original watercolor painting was painted on location at Historic Sunnylands Estates in Rancho Mirage, California. It is beautifully landscaped, and the cactus is growing in sculptural arrangements. From their online garden guide, I learned these cacti are called “Blue Torch.” The photo guide helps you identify the many types of cactus by their picture and location on the estate. A Saturday Yoga class and garden tours were going on while we painted.

The Blue Torch grows in clusters, creating a more interesting composition. The foreground cactus was painted larger in warm colors, and cooler colored cacti made good contrast. The background tree colors were softened. I had fun adding the complementary Red and Orange irregularly placed blooms.

Cactus Crowd is matted and framed in an attractive contemporary medium brown wood frame. See picture.