Giverny Close Up

As far back as I can remember flowers have been a source of inspiration for me and my work. I am drawn to their bold colors, contrasting and surprising textures, and their gentle movement in the breeze. They have a universal beauty that lasts throughout the full lifespan of the flower. Even as the flower dies there is, what I call, a "sad beauty” as the petals wilt and shrivel and eventually fall off one-by-one.

In 2018 I had the privilege to experience Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France. The grounds were breathtaking, there was the most exquisite sea of colors, larger than life Dahlias, and flowers I had never seen before. The photographs I took from that trip were the initial catalyst for this collection of paintings. I would, however, be remiss not to mention my mother-in-law’s garden in Ireland. Though part of the splendor of Giverny was the density of the flowers, the way Nora (my mother-in-law) has her garden laid out, each plant has its own space allowing you to take a visual breath and enjoy that one single plant for a moment. My decision to paint small groupings or even just a close up of a single flower was so that the viewer can pause and take in the beauty of the flower. My hope is that pause will allow the viewer space to feel the same joy I felt wandering through Monet’s garden and the same serenity and focus I feel when walking the grounds of Nora’s garden.