It's Done!

After countless late nights and working through nap times, my first floral commission is done! WOO HOO! Looking back, my creative process went something like this: excitement, contemplation, frustration, sweat, rejuvenation, frustration, more sweat, excitement, repeat. Through it all though, I found I absolutely love painting florals, with their bursts of color and organic forms. Just my cup o'tea. In April, I'll be introducing my new collection of small floral paintings at my Etsy shop!

So without further adieu, here it is:

Lulie Wallace

I've been working on the large floral painting (most) every evening after I put M to bed. Working with a deadline is a great excuse to stay up until the wee hours of the night painting. Just don't ask how I look in the mornings (ha!).


Since I've had florals on the brain lately, I've been really inspired by Charleston-based artist Lulie Wallace. With her use of vivid colors, playful patterns, and engaging compositions, it's no wonder her paintings have become a Pinterest sensation. 

In Progress...

I've recently been commissioned to create a large 30 x 40 inch acrylic floral painting. It has been such a long time since I've done much with flowers and lately I've been painting so many geometric designs, that I'm really loving the freedom this is bringing. It's certainly a welcome break from precision.

I mix the colors directly onto the canvas and most times work in an impasto style (meaning the paint is so thick you can see the brushstrokes). I was playing around with different styles in my mind of what I wanted it to look like: Wayne Thiebaud (LOVE!) vs. classic Impressionist (been there, done that), Matisse (lots of great ideas) vs. Dutch Renaissance (too formal for my style). In the end, I simply decided to  start painting and let the shapes, patterns, and colors dictate how the whole was going to look (how very right-brained of me, right? Ha!).

Now that the painting is half done, I'm really quite happy with how it's looking! The colors are lively and the shapes are organic, nothing too realistic and nothing too abstract. The style is half flat (Thiebaud + Matisse) and half blended (Impressionism). Just right for me.  What do you guys think?