This painting was an interesting and challenging commission. The open Tulip Tree flower showed the most unusual colours that had great subtlety - the yellow was not quite "yellow" and the orange not quite "orange". This was in contrast to other Tulip Tree flowers that I have seen which exhibited very strong colours. I realised early on in the project that the painting demanded colours that were not mixed but rather were overlayed until the right hue was achieved. The bud was quite "blue-green," again overlayed pigments were used and this same colour was reflected on the backs of the leaves. In my garden, the Tulip Tree is one of the last to flower in late spring, and the freshness and gentle colour of the early season's leaves is in great contrast to these same leaves seen later in summer.