I did this page on 23-25 September 2005. I don’t often copy the work of the masters, or even directly reference them, but this darling Dürer caught my eye. Something about her seemed very familiar. Almost like I had met her before. I was enticed by the gorgeous autumnal color palette. And the mysterious black background. Of course I added the bat wings. The other way I altered the work, besides using my own style of brushstrokes, and combining a bunch of other irrelevant imagery, was to turn her eyes curiously up towards the blue beetle emblazoned cryptically above her head.

I painted the orchid from life. I was named after the “Kristen Ann” part of this hybrid, although my name is spelled differently.

Particular Influences…

• Quote by William Blake: “The man who never in his mind and thoughts travel’d to heaven is no artist.”
• Jeune Femme Venetienne 1505 by Albrecht Dürer
• Orchid: Dendrobium Susan Takahashi ‘Dark’ xx Grace Okabe x Mini Pearl
• Blue Beetle: Pseudomagrus waterhousei

Media:

• acrylic paints
• colored pens
• alphabet stamps