Artist notes: White pincushion flowers offer clouds to the common dwarf sunflower as the rich yellows and fascia pinks are picked up by the dahlias and snapdragons that softened against the muted zinnias and green foliage. Great masterwort and strawflowers offers additional texture and variety. I arrange and rearrange the flowers in the vase before picking up the brush to paint the bouquet from life. Most of the still life paintings comes together in the first painting sessions with a second look and minor changes made the next day. Even though we know summer is coming to an end these flowers remind us not to given in to melancholy or regret as we have weeks yet of glorious days before winter.

This is my seven painting in a still life “Summer of Flowers” series that result from an arrangement with a local farm, that began in June and will end in October, who brings me a large bouquet of seasonal flowers every two weeks.