The creation of the botanical painting titled “Cherish the Happy Moment” was inspired by my encounter with a beautifully blooming plant in a botanic garden. The plant in question is Mussaenda erythrophylla Schumach, & Thonn. The vibrant colours of its blossoms reflect the my joyful state of mind at the time.

M. erythrophylla is renowned for its exceptional aesthetic beauty. Native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, it belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Often used as an ornamental shrub, it goes by various common names such as ashanti blood, red glag bush, dona luz, or bunga nusa indah in bahasa Indonesia. Beyond its ornamental value, M. erythrophylla serves environmental and social purposes as a medicinal and food source.

For this piece, I employed watercolour on paper. The process began with sketching the outlines using a pencil. Subsequently, I delicately applied watercolour to the paper, using a combination of red, pink, and hints of yellow, which became my signature palette. Carefully and meticulously, I added texture and subtle shading to capture the sweet and warm beauty of the flower.

The creation process was not without its challenges. Painting on relatively small-sized paper required me to portray the intricate features of the flower while overcoming occasional hand tremors.

This painting aims to convey a message to its viewers, urging them to appreciate and savor even the smallest moments of happiness. The beautiful sight of the bunga nusa indah radiates joy and gratitude towards the Creator.