When I originally started painting, many moons ago, floral art was my first love. I created this bundle for Mother's Day. It includes 3 prints, Anemone, White Peony, and a Rose of Sharon. All these were painted from flowers in my own garden.
What do you think? Which paiting is your favorite?
I don't usually work with florals, but painting from your own garden is a good instinct. You're already looking at those blooms at different hours, different light conditions, you know what they actually do. The anemone reads cleanest to me. The dark center grounds it in a way the others don't quite have, and that matters when you're working this loose with the petals.
I keep coming back to that peony. There's something about the way white petals hold light that feels impossible to nail until you're staring at the actual bloom in your yard, waiting for that exact moment. Working from your own garden changes everything. Years back I tried shooting wildflowers from reference photos and it never clicked, but once I started hiking to the actual spots and waiting for the right light, the whole approach shifted. That connection to what's right outside your door shows in these.
Thank you Malcolm. Light is so important when you paint. I also love to visit botanical gardens.