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"Water
Lily" by Paul McGehee. One of the most beautiful and exotic of all
flowers. The freshwater aquatic plant can now be found all over the
world as it is commonly used as a decorative feature in landscaping,
but the broad leaves also perform the useful function of blocking the
sunlight from the bottoms of ponds to reduce algae growth. Of the
approximately 65 varieties of Water Lilies, most are inedible, but
after boiling, peoples of many lands have looked to the plant as a food
source, from the Asian continent to the African continent. Water Lilies
also have certain medicinal properties as well. In ancient Egypt, Water
Lilies were common on the Nile River and the imagery of the starburst
blossoms became a cultural symbol, many centuries ago. Often confused
with Lotus Blossoms, Water Lilies are of a different genus, displaying
several minor differences in the shapes of their petals and leaves. The
most notable difference is that the Lily's leaves rest flat on the
water's surface, where the Lotus leaves and flowers rise above the
water on stems. The Water Lily has historically been of spiritual
importance in the lands of Buddhism and Hinduism as a symbol of
rebirth, since the flowers completely close at night and reopen the
following morning. Water Lilies come in many different colors,
especially the dramatic tropical varieties...the one depicted here was
drawn from life on the Caribbean island of Nevis.
"Water Lily" is faithfully reproduced as an
archival-quality print from McGehee's original color pencil and acrylic
artwork, in a limited edition of only 2,000 pieces each hand-signed by
the artist. Print image size 10 5/8" x 15 1/8".
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