The Desert Rose

Adenium obesum plant (fat vulgar in latin reference to the ball of the trunk) more commonly known as the desert rose, is said to be also poisonous. This dichotomy of beauty, ugliness, and deadliness piqued my interest for painting this flowering plant found in parts of SEA. The desert flower requires very little water to bloom beautifully on branches creating a twisted linearity crowned by roses. Electric hues of fuchsia and pink with a deep cadmium orange pistil surrounded by permanent green leaves provide a beautiful palette of colors for an artist to capture. Here's my study for a larger painting.