framed in narrow, ornate pewter wood under TruVue Museum Acrylic

I spied a solitary yellow bloom waving above a sea of soft pinks, petals defying the characterless architecture to dampen their spirits.
Or mine. The flowers, which covered only a few square feet, appeared quite companionable. So many Pinks. One sturdy Yellow. Community and Individuality. Jim pulled the truck over so I could jump out and take some photos with my iPhone. Good man, Jim is.

Later, as I painted in my studio, I remembered how sunlight danced across the translucent petals on that partly cloudy morning, making colors and textures continuously shift in the light wind. That lively light dance doesn’t show in my frozen reference photos. That’s why I find it essential to BE THERE, to experience whatever I paint—and in this case, especially, my painting is infinitely more alive than my photos. After all, it's a painting about feeling alive and grateful for the bright spot in the day.

And what’s with the yellow flower? Bold and bright, heavily drenched in sun-color, it’s sturdy and tall compared to its companions, those massed pink cups of paper-thin bone china that caught my eye in the first place. The pinks are delicate beauties, hugging one another and looking alike, while the yellow is a rugged individual, proud of being what it is.

This piece reflects the tenacity of nature, and, of life. We all know beauty comes in many colors and shapes, and that it thrives in unexpected places. But we also all forget that sometimes. Imagine this little pastel painting brightening your space with an inspiring sense of wonder and appreciation for the little moments in life, with all its diversity.