Coral Tulips, 2026
By Kristen Coates
18”H x 24”W
Acrylic on canvas
Signed and titled on reverse
Tulips have always carried a sense of optimism for me, the first real signal that a season has shifted, renewal. Plus they're just really pretty and fun to paint.
In this piece, the forms are suggested rather than precious. Loose, gestural petals move across a field of sky blue and soft peach, allowing the color to carry the feeling of the flowers without becoming literal. Coral and clay tones build rhythm across the surface, while the lighter washes create space and air between each bloom.
The composition feels both structured and spontaneous, a cluster of tulips caught mid-movement, as if stirred by a warm breeze. It’s a painting about renewal and light, where the energy of the brushwork is just as important as the flowers themselves.
