SOLD! at the Eggplant Boutique in the South Hills of Charleston.

The original oil painting by Pat Cross titled Eye Candy Hibiscus reached a new collector while visiting the Eggplant Boutique recently.

The hibiscus bloom is known worldwide as both a feast for the eyes and a healing balm for the body. Many gardeners plant hibiscus for a splash of color while others harvest the blooms to decorate a serving plate, or to steep as a soothing tea. Though the hibiscus typically blooms a solid color, Pat Cross chose to incorporate each of those colors into one bloom. “I then I titled the painting, Eye Candy Hibiscus to reflect its delectable beauty and flavor,” says Pat Cross.

Pat Cross tells of her inspiration for the piece: "I captured the reference images for this oil painting during one of my coffee-cup garden tours with my mother.” Pat Cross explains that “as a certified Master Gardener, Mom cultivated plants with impressive skill, transforming her back yard garden into a veritable utopia.” Pat attributes her floral painting series to those garden tours with her mother.

To view or purchase a Pat Cross floral painting of your own, visit the Eggplant Boutique, 1011 Bridge Rd A, Charleston, WV 25314. To view more oil paintings by Pat Cross, visit www.patcrossart.com or visit one of her galleries.