Stop And Smell The Flowers

My stories behind the paintings and where I found my space

"a space, area, or spot, set apart or used for a particular purpose".  

During the beginning of the year is when I started painting the first of two possible series.  I usually have many ideas planned and thought through. I think about subject matter, sizes, cost, time, story, and over all fit for my art and business.

In January of 2020  I was seriously wrestling with some other ideas.  The corona pandemic also pushed me to a new place of creating.  I decided to step away from my usual themes of the water and coast to try a different topic. I wanted to make something with an abstract spiritual message about us as people.  What I came up with and started was a flower series that represented man and some of the human conditions we deal with as a whole.

I wanted to portray the beauty we have as individuals, as a community, and the limited time we have to live well.  To sing, to feel alone, to find what energizes and refreshes us are some of the topics I'm trying to say with these paintings.  One of the cooler things about this series is the visual inspiration came from a photo shoot I did with my daughter, Brittany.  She is a photographer and loves to capture moments.  In my neighborhood there is a retired couple who have multiple lily plants that are well kept and labeled.  From those photos I've formed my ideas on what to paint. 

My plan is to have a total of thirteen paintings in this series and it will be completed in two installments. I have eight going into production first and they should be ready by the end of June.  With this new topic I hope it will give some courage and say how beautifully precious all of us are.

My art family, thanks for reading and your support.  Stay safe and live well.

Blessings