Bound for a new home



"Sunflowers Galore" watercolor, 16" x 12" went to a new home, purchased by a mother for her daughter, who loves sunflowers. I am honored that someone considered this painting worthy of making a memory for a family member.

I had painted it from life, with the sunflowers in a cobalt blue glass vase. I had wondered whether to paint the whole vase with the flowers, because that would have made for a long, thin painting, or to crop the vase and move it slightly off center, but keep the proportions looking right. I chose the latter option for the size of paper. This painting also has won First place in the watercolor category and a Best of Theme in watercolors in different shows. I liked how the natural arrangement of the sunflowers had them facing different ways. They did not feel staged, and I added to that feeling by suggesting the leaves below and not really painting them in detail. I did a lot of the base of the flowers by painting them negatively, especially when they face away from the viewer.