Mountain Laurel is a rich, immersive studio acrylic painting that celebrates the dense, snow-like abundance of blooming mountain laurel on Don Yaun’s 11½-acre wooded homestead in Buford, Georgia. This 12″ × 16″ work on wood panel was inspired by the very first time Don encountered this native flowering tree up close during early explorations of the property in the 1980s. He was instantly mesmerized by the way the blossoms transition through intricate shapes, eventually bursting open like delicate umbrellas to reveal their exquisite, complicated structure. Clustered in thick masses, the white flowers blanket the trees like fresh snow, creating one of nature’s most magnificent displays.
This painting differs from “Mountain Laurel Evening” by viewing directly into the dark, shadowed foliage—most of the blooms are in deep shadow, with only subtle highlights indicating their white presence. The result conveys the true thickness and density of the plant’s flowers and leaves, immersing the viewer in the lush, almost secretive world of the thicket. The flowers are built with many values of cool and warm colors: warm whites and yellows in the sunlit areas, cool blues and purples in the shadows, with strategic spots of red, orange, and pink adding unexpected interest. The green leaves are crisp yet intentionally loose—carefully painted to support without overpowering the delicate blooms. On close inspection, the leaves themselves reward attention with their own subtle beauty.
About Mountain Laurel Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a native evergreen shrub of eastern North America, thriving in acidic woodland soils with partial shade. In Georgia, it often forms dense thickets and blooms profusely in late spring to early summer, producing clusters of bowl-shaped flowers in white, pink, or rose tones. The blooms are intricate and beautiful, but the plant is toxic if ingested—its stunning appearance comes with natural caution.
