She Sings to Flowers

egg tempera on panel, 30 x 40 cm, December 2023

Will show in 2024 Royal British Artists Exhibition 2024

When the frosts have taken all the colour out of my garden, I buy flowers. An inexpensive mixed bouquet with roses and various mums was my starting point.

My still life paintings begin as I choose the shapes and colours from objects in my studio – there are many shelves of things collected from charity shops and carboot sales to choose from. I have been exploring gold. As I paint, objects are removed from the set up or moved ever so slightly; blue becomes purple; patterns are observed and imagined; layers are built until I find harmony, a title and meaning.

Did you know that plants do like to be sung to? And sweet peas prefer heavy metal. This painting is framed St Ives style.