Portraits and Fine Art by Nancy Tilles

Portraits | Coral Reefs | Florals | Peacocks | Equestrians | Dogs | Palm Trees | Butterflies | Commissions

Pink Orchid Royalty
Oils 36" x 24" painting size

A deep black background shows off the velvety texture and structural form of the two seductive orchids, the Phalaenopsis. The color of these orchids is a brilliant hot pink.

Peach Daisys
Oils 24" x 18" painting size

Bromeliad original in bluegreens
Oil 48"x36"

I created this painting because I was inspired by the beautiful foliage at the American Orchid Society's gardens in Delray Beach. The bromeliad I chose was the most perfect one I have ever seen and the colors were exciting to paint. I decided to frame it from above because that was where its beauty was displayed most advantageously. These are the original colors of the painting. I have created a second version of the image as a giclee. It features more olive greens if a client has that preference. This painting is unique in that it can be hung horizontally or vertically depending on the preference of the collector.

Bromeliad giclee in earthy greens
Oil 48"x36"

White Wedding Orchids
Oil 50"x24"

I love to paint white orchids because the light reflected creates so many colors. You can see the shades of greens, blues, yellows, reds, oranges and purple grays. These orchids are called Cattleyas. I call this painting "White Wedding Orchids" because the delicate ruffles remind me of a wedding dress.

Pink Jungle Orchids
Oil 50"x24"

I chose to create a more decorative look with this pink Phalaenopsis, opting for a an interesting pattern of leaves behind the orchids. Although the leaves create almost a feeling of wallpaper, the pattern has depth and hopefully does not take away from offsetting the orchids.

White Orchid Trio
Oil 50"x32" painting size

Like the painting above I chose a white orchid for its reflective nature. I also enjoyed painting the background. Here I tried to achieve a complimentary setting to the bright whites of the flowers but I hope the viewer appreciates the colors and senses a feeling of stained glass that tried to achieve.

Candy Striped Phalenopis
Oil 50"x24"
"The Candy Striped Phaleanopis" was a difficult flower to paint. I struggled against its stripes to capture the flower's form.

Peach Cattalaya
Oils 36" x 42" painting size

This painting and the one below were created as part of a commission. My client wanted to fill their new home with flowers.

I photographed this orchid at the American Orchid Society of Palm Beach County. "The Peach Cattalya" was a lush flower at the height of its beauty and easy to paint.

Rosey Embrace
Oil 36" x 48" painting size
Rosey Embrace" was initially inspired by the roses that I saw in a flower shop. I thought of a loving couple engaged in a romantic embrace. The colors are soft and realistic yet pushed to shine. An initial study was made of this image in much more subtle colors where the underpainting is very apparent. That study has a very sculptural feel whereas the final painting has a softer feel.

Rose and Babies Breath
Oil 40" x 40" painting size
The square painting of "Roses and Babies Breath" was a commissioned piece. Here, the one rose stands alone.

Roses in the Mist
Oil 30" x 24" painting size

For the painting "Roses in the Mist", I took several pictures of a bouquet I got as a gift. I chose to concentrate on three of the roses up close to form a pleasing composition. With hints of out of focus palms I gave them a feeling of being in a natural environment. Each petal reflects onto the next spilling the color of one onto the petal of the other.

Courtship
Oil 50"x30" painting size

"Courtship" was inspired by a client who wanted two larger than life sized roses in a romantic pose. I played with the composition of two beautiful roses that I had photographed and came up with the present composition. The roses appear to me to be engaged in a flirtatious dance.

Calla Lillies Expanding
Oils 24" x 20" painting size

White Gladiolas throwing shadows on wood
Oils 24" x 18" painting size
These paintings were some of my first attempts at oils. The first three images were painted against the background of my newly installed wood floors .I took liberty with painting the colors of the floor. I arranged the flowers into odd perspectives as a rebellion against the traditional look of floral bouquets.

Four Dancing Calla Lillies
Oils 24" x 36" painting size

Golden Glads
Oil 24" x 50" painting size

Although Gladiolas are not concidered to be rare or exotic, they are very beautiful and varied flowers. Their petal shapes are different from variety to the next, not to mention the brilliant colors! I love the way the petals peak out from the green stalks and how they are distorted in a vase of water. Up close they appear very sculptural and exciting. I painted them life sized and larger so that they could be appreciated for the special flowers that they are.

Reigning Gladiolas
Oil 24" x 52" painting size

Floretta's Gladiolas
Oil 14"x52" painting size

Abundant Tulips
Oil 42"x36" painting size

Tulips are structurally alike and grow erect and orderly. Their colors vary like a rainbow. In this painting, I focused on creating a colorful mixture of primary and secondary colors choosing red, yellow and purple flowers with their green stalks and offsetting them with a brilliant blue background and a golden tablecloth. I wanted the flowers to weep over the glass bowl and contradict their own structured nature. To emphasize the giddy happiness of this composition I chose to have fun with the background and introduce spontaneous strokes of golds and whites. I owe the nature of this painting to one of my favorite artists... Van Gogh.

Sunflower, Sunbathing
Watercolor 22" x 28" painting size

The sunflowers were magnificent that day and the centers were so black that they appeared red in bright sunlight. I placed them at the edge of the pool and took several photos. I loved the way the water behind the flowers refracted the light in a pattern and how the blue color compliments the yellow of the flower's petals. The pot they sit in is one of my favorites and I have painted it many times.

Two Tulips
Watercolor 14" x 16" painting size

Dancing Shadows
Watercolor 14" x 18" painting size

Red Gladiola framed in Emeralds and Diamonds
Watercolor 14" x 18" painting size

Spring
Watercolor 18" x 24" painting size

Pink Lotus Water Lilly
Oil 36" x 42" painting size

Pink Lotus and Two Nymphaeas were created as part of a commission. My client wanted to fill their new home with flowers.

When I found out what the subject was going to be, I discovered that the best place to photograph water lilies was McKee Botanical Gardens in Vero Beach. It is a remarkable place where a system of waterways interconnect. Every corner brings you to into contact with more lovely floating flowers. I was so excited when I got there that I practically ran from shot to shot. Painting was a pure color delight. The first painting is a portrait of a pink lotus. The second painting is a portrait of two Nymphaeas.

Two Nymphaea Waterlilies
Oil 36"x42" painting size

Pink Lotus and Two Nymphaeas were created as part of a commission. This painting is a portrait of two Nymphaeas.

Water Lilly in the Center of Its Universe
Oil 36" x 48" painting size

I took the reference photographs for these floating flowers at the American Orchid Society of Palm Beach County. I love to paint flowers and water lilies are particularly interesting because of their proximity to water and the shadows and reflections that are created. "Water Lilly in the Center of its Universe" and "Two Water Lilies and their Reflections" are both larger than life and measure 36" x 48". The size is meant to make an impression on the viewer and lead them into the scene. The giclees are available.

Two Waterlilies and their Reflections
Oil 36"x48" painting size