Three more postcards for the Birthday postcard exchange. Sending them all out tomorrow. Some of the December birthday girls will be getting their cards super early. Knowing how hectic this month is, and how forgetful I am, I wanted to be sure the cards made it to their destinations.
I did not always appreciate the beauty of a sunflower. Something a little too wild, and untended about them I think. I have a vague memory of seeing them in a garden, that really just looked like a bunch of miss matched overgrown weeds. I always leaned more towards the glamorous tropical plants. Calla lily, bird of paradise, big leafy banana plants, palms.
Georgia O’Keefe and Vincent Van Gogh helped me see the error of my ways. Now I love sunflowers for being wild, and strong. You can find them growing on the driest, hottest, most forgotten piece of land. Sunflowers are survivors.
Wikipedia names 52 species of sunflower, but there are 6 additional “former” listings. This is an interesting history, and there are truly gorgeous photos to be seen as well.
This sunflower of mine may have turned out a bit too cartoony, but I had fun painting it. What do you think?
And they’re off! I mailed my submissions for the Richmond Art Gallery, Memory: International Mail Art Exhibition and Swap. The Richmond Art Gallery is in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. In close proximity to Vancouver. I am so happy with how the postcards turned out.
And I actually remembered to sign them before I mailed them off. I have been forgetting to sign my art for this challenge. I remember just after I have scanned it in, and because I am jammin’ to make a deadline, I have just let it slide and posted them unsigned.
There are some bits of turquoise that are not showing well. (the white patch on the left leaf, and a couple of other areas.) It really does look nice in person though. The memory theme I chose was “In Memoriam”. Red flowers such as roses, chrysanthemum, hydrangea, gladiolas and tulips are often used in memorial service flower arrangements.
The end of the challenge is right around the corner. I am a little sad that I won’t be seeing the work of over 325 artists each day. But I have made some new friends, and their art will still find it’s way into my mailbox. Yea!
One more small (and HUGE) thing I have learned from Leslie’s challenge. I have ruined so many paintings, seeking perfection. I have learned more about re-working things I don’t like and also when to quit and let the drips and blooms win. I love all the imperfect parts when I see them in other artists work, but in my paintings I would see them as flaws. I still have a TON to learn. But I feel, really just in the last few days, that I have more confidence.
That in part is due to all of the great feedback I have received from my fellow challenge participants. Thank You Lucy, Joan, Samara, Kim, Sandy, Katie, Julie, Mariette, Jim, Maggie, Karen, Joanie. Big thanks also to my friends who are not part of the challenge, and family! Seeing my art through your eyes, has been a gift.
Happy Saturday to everyone! Thanks for taking the time to look at my art, and if you have left a comment, Thank You! Thank You!
Here are the first two postcards I painted for this show:
