Walking by the garden | Olga Saenz, painter

This exquisite Costa Rican tropical garden painting by Olga Saenz is a mesmerizing masterpiece that captures the essence of Costa Rica’s lush landscapes and the vibrant life that thrives within. Measuring 1 meter by 120 cm, this painting invites viewers into an intimate exploration of a tropical garden, meticulously detailed and rich in color, where the boundary between art and nature blurs.

At first glance, the painting is a vivid celebration of tropical flowers, with heliconias, torch gingers, shampoo gingers, and a delightful bunch of pink impatiens commanding immediate attention. Their colors are so vibrant and their forms so meticulously rendered that one can almost smell the fragrant air of the garden. This tropical flowers painting is not just a visual feast; it’s an invitation to explore the deeper layers of the garden’s ecosystem.

Hidden within the foliage, a hummingbird hovers, its delicate form a testament to Saenz’s skill in capturing the fleeting moments of nature. Near the hummingbird, its nest is cleverly concealed, a subtle reminder of the life cycles that continue unseen by human eyes. This element adds a dynamic sense of life and movement to the painting, as if at any moment, the scene could spring to life.

The ground level perspective of the painting brings the viewer closer to the earth, where mushrooms sprout from the fertile soil, and poison dart frogs peek out from their hiding spots, their vivid colors a stark contrast to the greenery. A cocoon, a symbol of transformation and new beginnings, hangs delicately from a branch, while a butterfly, newly emerged, adds a touch of grace and beauty to the scene.

Perhaps the most thrilling discovery within this Costa Rican tropical garden painting is the tarantula, masterfully hidden as it would be in nature, challenging the viewer to look closer and appreciate the beauty in even the most feared creatures. This element of surprise and discovery is a hallmark of Saenz’s work, inviting viewers to engage in a game of hide and seek with the natural world.

Olga Saenz’s painting is more than just a depiction of a tropical garden; it is a celebration of life in all its forms, a reminder of the intricate connections that sustain ecosystems. Through her art, Saenz encourages us to look beyond the obvious, to appreciate the beauty of nature’s hidden treasures, and to see the world with wonder and appreciation. This tropical garden painting is not only a testament to Saenz’s talent as an artist but also a tribute to the enduring beauty of Costa Rica’s natural heritage.