Peonies are often called the wedding flower. They have been consistently a favorite of brides.

How difficult is it to paint peonies in a studio? The beauty of virtually any flower is breathtaking, but for some, it is a fleeting moment in time. The peony is an example of a flower whose beauty must be captured quickly, because its large but delicate form quickly opens up, and the heavy petals fall. Capturing flowers on canvas is not as easy as capturing them in photos, and photos don't always make good paintings. But once an artist realizes that to capture this flower's ephemeral beauty on canvas, she must be quick, the rewards are so satisfying. Such was the case for me with Wedding Flowers. Even the trip home from the flower market can be quite dangerous for a peony! It will start its "life" in the cool market air as a tight ball, then after a bumpy ride home it has already opened up. Then getting into the studio, in cool water, set up as a still life, correct lighting, canvas ready, paint squeezed out of the tube, brushes ready...you get the idea!