I love painting flowers, especially ones that are brightly colored and have big blossoms. They are eye-catching and I cannot resist painting their shapes with saturated pigments.

I used one of my reference photos for this design and I also draw them from life to capture their essence. This bouquet includes zinnias and balloon flowers from our garden. I compose the design loosely in pencil, then paint by wetting the individual shapes — not wetting the whole paper. This way I can connect the shapes as I paint, and if I am interrupted, it is a comfortable stopping point in progress. I strive for simplicity because it keeps a painting fresh and exciting and it respects the viewer’s intelligence and does not bore them with unnecessary details.

The principles of design are in my mind as I paint, working for a unified balance in my compositions with good values and harmony in colors that I select. Occasionally I add some texture with oil pastels during the process. When I am nearly finished, I will critique my progress.