Arched Patterns(Japanese Magnolia)

FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS THIS PAINTING IS HELD IN THE ARTIST'S FAMILY COLLECTION

The Pastel Journal has included this in their LINKS...WITH A SHORT STORY AND POEM; The link is named in the Oct. 2007 issue. (This painting was also exhibited at the Degas Pastel Soc. National Exhibition, New Orleans, LA)

LTD. EDITION PRINTS AVAILABLE - only one printer's proof available 2015

Poetry to be added here soon...


Flowers as Portraits – Japanese Tulips at Dusk


Motion and movement, arrangement in forms,
twisting bodies as personalities, pods of petals are posed.

In shadow in the woods, at twilight are some, seeking day’s filtered light, stolen moments are those
visions of loveliness, as intricate in beauty as a female form, displaying her body in any repose.

Enjoyed for their features, delicate limbs hold on to life’s natural gifts in explicable color foretold.

As though a sensuous message for us to behold.

A flower, a love, do these woods hold.



Expressive, almost speaking, pursed lips, demur, in silent reverence observed,
are barely open.

For as each a brief life is given, to all as well taken.

Ever still beauty remains, an impression never forgotten.

A persona, a figure, with a fingerprint all her own, an embodiment in petals whose portraiture’s displayed.


Marcia Holmes
March 19, 2006

Dedicated to my Mother, Mary Arline Perry Crews (1932-2006)

Copyright Marcia Holmes 2006 All rights reserved


As an afterthought, I recall now that due to a tracheotomy she was unable to speak aloud to me for months, so there, the silence. The afternoon before she died, she called to surprise me and I was able to hear her voice again, not knowing it would be for the last time. (Noted 4-28-07)

PUBLISHED IN THE PASTEL JOURNAL MAGAZINE, APRIL 2008, WINNER OF HONORABLE MENTION IN THE PASTEL 100 COMPETITION