New paintings, hot off the easel, and some thoughts on art and life ...

It's great to paint from life, and I often do. I'm known for painting flowers and I have a big beautiful garden, so why not? But there are times when you have to cheat. Like when it's pouring rain in February and you want to paint sunflowers. That's when I get out my fake flowers. Yes, it's true, fake flowers!

I'm not always a tight, realistic painter, and often my process begins and ends in my imagination, but I still have to check forms and shapes. For most of the year I simply cut a few flowers and bring them into the studio, but in February? It's fake flower time!

The photos below show what's happening in my studio this week when it's cold and rainy outside:  a big painting just starting and a finished still life on the shelf behind it (first photo) and a finished sunflower painting (second photo).