Still lifes are my main subject matter and this one was inspired by my daughter-in-law’s photo. I love the casualness and placement of these objects — the Oregon sunflowers sit on the countertop, along with the mugs and bag of sugar. It adds interest and the colors are bright and cheery. It feels just like you walk into her kitchen and find the items there, ready to paint. I like the relationships and connections between the items. The primary color triad appeals to me also: the yellow sunflowers, red zinnias and blue mugs. The colors sing and they are fresh and inviting. These are inspirational pictures in which I have painted other still lifes.