This painting was inspired by my garden irises. I love gardens and find them a restful place to enjoy the solitude of each day and admire nature in all its glory. I am drawn by the shapes and brilliant colors of flowers.

Time is spent drawing the flowers from life. These drawings are a springboard and a starting point for the next stage. The process of drawing, observing and painting grounds me. In springtime I spend a lot of time outdoors, using my sketchbook daily and recording the information I see in the flowers in front of me. My goal is to create the freshness and bright colors of the flowers using the wet-in-wet technique. In combining the soft, wet shapes with some hard edges, I feel the subject matter is captured perfectly.

Occasionally I photograph flowers at nature centers, local gardens and the Des Moines Botanical Center, and create sketches later. In the winter when the weather is cloudy and dreary, I pull out my sketches and dream of flower designs. I feel that flowers uplift your mood and brighten your day.