JC's Moonflower

Friends -

Moab seems to be the place where I complete most of my pastels, and this visit is no exception.  Also, because of the fact that the first person to generously teach me his way of using pastels is JC Borders, it is appropriate that this next one be dedicated to him - or at least to his flowers.  My own style is not like JC's, but I honor him for initiating many local artists that now are known as the Moab Pastel Guild.

JC has a home that reminds me of paradise.  It includes acreage for several sheep, 2 Tennessee Walkers, and 3 smiling border collies and one not-so-friendly cat.  He also has a lovely garden, planted more for beauty than for edibles, and a sweet patio from which to admire it, as well as the Moab red rocks and La Salle Mountains in the distance.

In this case, I snapped a photo of one of his Moonflowers (Datura), which happily bloom throughout the Colorado River basin in the fall.  There are a lot of them in Moab, and there is even one campground called Moonflower Canyon, because these plants are so plentiful.  One of the shadier facts about Moonflower is that most parts of the plant contain toxic hallucinogens.  It has a history of causing delirium and death, as users seek it out for its fabled ingredient of love potions.

I have never used Moonflower in this way, of course, but I love it because it always brings me pleasant memories of being in this part of the desert that I can now call my home.  It also bears a bloom that fits well with the series of flowers that I am painting.

As usual, I will sell this painting for your donation to a good cause - such as Lane Community College Foundation Scholarship (named in honor of my granddaughter), or perhaps another such as Doctor's Without Borders.  At some point I can also offer prints of this painting and my other flowers in the form of notecards.  (A nice holiday gift idea).

Holidays are near, so a good little Moonflower would be nice in your home.

margie lopez read

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