It is impossible to paint sunflowers without thinking of Van Gogh. This painting actually started with some texture I made by dipping cheesecloth in paint and draping it across the canvas. Not much of that layer is visible now at all, but at one point it was entirely variations of orange textures and colors. At the time I had just finished a still life with sunflowers. I wanted to create something that showed what it feels like to experience sunflowers, rather than worrying about accuracy, I was determined to capture the emotion that it evokes. Maybe that is why we revere Van Gogh. He gave us permission to feel joy in seeing something course and unrefined expressed in a very emotional way, and to get great pleasure from it.