Blushing Latte
By Amber Gittins, 2010
Flowers spill across every inch of this canvas, layered so densely that no single bloom takes the lead. Amber Gittins works in a palette of creamy whites, soft browns, blush pinks, and dusty greens, letting one flower melt into the next like a garden that has grown a little wild. Her brushwork is thick and unfussy, with paint applied in quick dabs that hint at petals and leaves rather than tracing them exactly. The whole scene reads like a crowded flowerbed caught in a warm, hazy light.
The name "Blushing Latte" fits the mood perfectly, since those milky beige and coffee shades really do call to mind a frothy drink, brightened here and there by a rosy pink glow. Gittins is an Australian painter who has built her reputation on floral work like this, and it is easy to see the appeal. The painting does not reach for any deep message. It simply offers something gentle and pleasant, a splash of nature made to warm up a wall and calm the eye.