“Oleander Green” (2023)

WiL Vélez, Oleander Green, 2023.

 acrylic on paper (90 lb/250 gsm)

artwork: 7 x 7 in (17.78 x 17.78 cm)

overall dimensions (framed): 13 1/8 x 13 1/8 x 3/4 in (33.338 x 33.338 x 1.905 cm)

This painting includes a 12 x 12 in. (30.48 x 30.48 cm) acid-free 4 ply (1/16 in) mat board in cream linen with 6.5 x 6.5 in. (16.51 x 16.51 cm) square cutout and 45-degree white core beveled edge, a 12 x 12 in. clear acrylic pane (3/32 in. depth) with non-glare glazing and OP-3 UV filtering, a 13/16 in. (2.064 cm) profile wood frame in bronze with 12 x 12 in. opening and overall dimensions of 13 1/8 x 13 1/8 x 3/4 in. (33.338 x 33.338 x 1.905 cm).

Oleander Green (2023) was created during a period when I was exploring tea culture in greater depth. My research led me to a striking piece of history: in 19th-century New Orleans, oleander leaves—though highly toxic—were reportedly used in tea as a method of slow, undetectable poisoning, often by wives seeking to kill their husbands. Intrigued by this dark intersection of domesticity and danger, I began sketching mock tea box designs, styled after commercial grocery packaging, as a way to explore the tension between the ordinary and the ominous.     

At the same time, I was testing eight shades of blue and green water-based wood stains for a cabinet refinishing project. I ultimately chose not to use them in the kitchen, but the samples remained in my studio and soon became part of my artistic experimentation. Curious about their potential, I applied the stains to absorbent paper and began painting oleander leaves.     

This process sparked a new direction in my work. The material’s texture and unexpected fluidity opened up a fresh approach to painting. “Oleander Green” marks the beginning of that shift—and the start of a renewed and ongoing commitment to my art practice.

This is a unique, original artwork. Its image, like all images on this website, is the copyright of ©️WiL Vélez. All rights reserved.